Switching to an assisted living facility is often a complicated process for elderly people. Going from living in their homes to an unknown place with no friends or family around can be an extremely challenging transition for the people involved.
Learning about the pros of learning about assisted living is quintessential for elderly people instead of bouncing the idea on them out of the blue and without any warning.
If you are confused about how to ease the transition for the elderly when it is time to live in an assisted living unit, we have sorted out a few pointers for you to consider.
Fostering familiarity
Making transitions is always confusing for people, young or old. So, when you have to transition your senior family member into an assisted living place, the last thing that you want is to spring the idea on them out of the blue and without any familiarity. What you can do instead is discuss the idea and also offer them a virtual or in-person tour to be able to visualize the place for them. The knowledge and familiarity alleviate the anxiety for them.
Clarifying the services and support
Another reason why talking to the elderly about the transitions into an assisted living space can help is because it allows individuals to learn better about the services and the support offered by the assisted living place. Knowledge about the trained staff, medical assistance, and daily activities can provide reassurance to seniors. Not just the elderly, but even family members benefit from knowing where their loved ones will be living.
Encouraging independence
Assisted living spaces don’t allow family members or friends to live with the seniors, which means that familiarizing them with the living space encourages independence for them ahead of time. When you communicate the details about the eventual shift to the seniors, it allows them to maintain a sense of autonomy and the entire thing is quite empowering for them too.
Creating a social connection
Most of these senior assisted living spaces come with a variety of social activities, especially with access to different clubs and events in the place. So, when you have to relocate your senior family member into an assisted living space, it makes sense for you to tell them about these activities ahead of time. What this does is allow these seniors to build meaningful friendships too.
Open communication channels
Knowledge encourages open communication between the elderly, their families, and the facility staff. What you want to do is establish clear communication instead of fostering a sense of inclusion. Involving the person in the decision-making makes them feel included in the process, making the transition smoother.
Conclusion
Ensuring that your senior family member has an idea about the transition into an assisted living space can make a huge difference in their lives. Instead of keeping everything hush-hush, it makes sense for you to openly discuss the situation and enable everyone to make informed decisions related to the transition.
