Bring A Simple Collection Of Favorite Things
Odds are their new room is smaller than their current home, and clutter is a recipe for confusion and trip hazards.
If you havent received information from the assisted living community director or staff about what to bring from home, give them a call to find out how much is just enough to bring.
In some communities, rooms come furnished, but you should still be able to bring touches from home such as a favorite chair, wall art, personalized bedding, a CD player or iPod/docking station to play his/her favorite music.
At The Memory Center, our rooms are unfurnished to allow residents and their families to more closely recreate a space that looks and feels like home.
Having familiar pieces from home helps new residents settle in more quickly. And again, be careful about asking your parent which item do you want to take with you, as these types of decisions can be agitating in later stages of the disease.
We recommend reading Making A New Space In Assisted Living Or Memory Care Feel Like Home for more information on this important topic.
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DISCLAIMER: No Legal Advice Intended. This website includes general information about legal issues and developments in the law. Such materials are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. These informational materials are not intended, and must not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. You need to contact a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction for advice on specific legal issues problems.
What To Do If Safety Has Become An Issue
As important as it is to respect your loved ones wishes, sometimes independent living is no longer safe and safety is the most important consideration, says McKoy
You are right to be concerned if a parent has repeatedly left the stove on, flooded the bathroom or forgotten daily living activities like eating and personal hygiene, she notes. But forgetfulness does not always equal dementia, and memory loss isnt always a sign its time for your parent to move into assisted living or a nursing home.
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Plan Moving Transportation Around Your Elderly Loved Ones Needs
Many older adults cant withstand a long road trip without assistance or stops, while others may require full-service medical transport.
- Plan on extra travel time. Multiple stops for your loved one could extend your overall travel time. Ask regularly if your loved one needs to stretch their legs or make pit stops on long rides.
- Consider mobility. If flying is the best option, book nonstop flights for those with mobility issues. Contact the airline in advance with special requests such as boarding assistance, curb-to-gate escort, or special seating accommodations. Inform your loved one about safety protocols if they havent flown in a while.
- Add security for medical transit. If your aging relative needs extra help, look into senior-focused transportation companies that offer non-emergency medical transit designed to move people with extra needs, such as oxygen tanks and wheelchairs. Some companies even provide transport with beds and registered nurse attendants, though these services can be pricey.
Q: Is There A Time When Family Members Should Begin Discussing Assisted Living Facilities As A Possible Option For Care
Ms. Drelich: I believe that when family members observe their elderly relatives are starting to slow down, it is best to have a discussion as to what options for care they might need in the future, whether it be home care, independent living, senior housing, assisted living or a nursing home.
It is important to have an honest discussion. Make sure the relative understands about the plusses of all the possible options. Often people hear things and retain wrong information. This is far better than having the discussion after or in the midst of a crisis. When the actual time for this arrives, some of the sting of the idea will be less.
An extreme example that I can share from my work goes back to a time that I directed an independent living facility. Two daughters brought their dad in to meet with us, and he seemed particularly sad. I learned this occurred a week after his wife died. Clearly this was not the best time to have the discussion! His transition was very difficult and painful, though he did eventually settle in.
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Listen To Your Parents Concerns
Prepare for the fact that your parent may be angry and ask to go home. Try to listen and keep calm. If they express concerns about care at the nursing home, take those seriously. It might seem as though your parent is complaining all the time, but realize that this is a significant transition, and it will take time to adjust.
Talk To The Staff And Caretakers At The Facility
As part of a tour, you and your parent will be able to talk to the staff members at the facility. This will help to humanize the care that will be provided to your parent and make them more familiar with the people that will be around them regularly.
It will also help you feel more confident in the care that your parent will receive. Most facilities understand that this is a difficult time and that talking to the staff is a huge part of making the transition easier.
If youd like to read more about Origin and its wonderful staff, you can view our About Origin page or contact us today to find out more.
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Our Checklist For Moving Elderly Parents Into A Retirement Home
According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated 4.5% of seniors live in retirement homes while another 2% live in assisted living facilities. That means that every year, thousands of families help their elderly parents move into a new space where they can get the help they need.
Moving your elderly parents is a delicate process. A lot must be done and emotions can run high when moving away from a familiar space.
One way to make this process easier is to follow a checklist for moving elderly parents. By taking things one step at a time, you can lighten the load for you and your loved ones!
Read on for our comprehensive checklist of everything you’ll need to tackle when moving your elderly parents.
Step 1: Know When to Put Elderly Parents in a Nursing Home
It’s not always easy to make the call to move a parent into a nursing home, but there are several telltale signs.
The most obvious sign that your parent needs assisted living is when a medical problem persists that they can no longer address on their own. Medical problems can range from physical to cognitive.
In some cases, an elderly parent may benefit from assisted living when day-to-day tasks like cooking, cleaning, and grooming become more difficult. Having round-the-clock caregivers eliminate many of the concerns that arise in these situations.
Ultimately, if you feel that your parent would be safer and have a better quality of life in a nursing home, then it’s time to consider making that transition.
You Can Check With Your Columbia Nursing Home Lawyer To See If The Home Has A Good Reputation
When a Columbia nursing home gets sued, there are records of it with the court. Your Columbia nursing home lawyer to find out if there are any cases pending against the facility. You can also find out if theyve represented other clients in lawsuits against any of the local facilities. Always get this information early so you can make an educated decision.
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What Kind Of Care Will Your Aging Parent Need At Home
Before you decide to care for your elderly parents at home, consider their mental and physical health. Are they relatively healthy and independent, requiring minimal care? If so, moving them in may allow a chance to bond more with other family members.
However, sometimes health issues or a crisis are a catalyst for the transition. One of the main duties of a caregiver is assessing medical needs. This could mean keeping track of medical appointments, managing medications and chronic conditions, or assessing pain levels.
Before caring for your elderly parents at home, talk with their doctor and other health professionals. Ask yourself if youll be able to manage your parents chronic illnesses or physical limitations. If theyre experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline, read about common dementia behaviors to be sure you and your family are prepared.
Take Your Loved Ones Individual Situation Into Consideration
If both parents are living together and one is able to assist the other, then minimal help could be needed, says Weinstein.
Youll also want to think about any kind of financial prep that your older loved one has done that could help foot the bill for assisted living. Some people have long-term care insurance that could pay for live-in caregivers, notes Weinstein.
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Can You Force A Parent To Move To A Nursing Home
Unless you are the legal guardian, you or a doctor cant force someone into a nursing home. Even as the guardian, there are ethical and legal issues around physically forcing or tricking someone into moving to a nursing home.
A far better approach is to convince your parent to move to a nursing home. Sometimes when there is a medical crisis and a hospitalization, the medical treatment staff will recommend nursing home care, and the transition can happen then.
Otherwise, you will need to talk with your parent about moving to a nursing home and hope you can convince them it is the right thing to do.
How To Place A Parent Into A Nursing Home: Step
Any decision involving care for an aging adult can be difficult at times. You may be concerned about the cost, the quality of care, and also how to have a conversation with your parent about care.
Jump ahead to these sections:
Families tend to take care of a loved one long beyond the time a nursing home may have been the best option. Our step-by-step guide can help you make this difficult decision by focusing on specific care needs and how best to discuss this very challenging transition.
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How Is A Nursing Home Different From A Retirement Home Or Assisted Living
Nursing homes are residential care facilities for older adults who do not require hospitalization but require more care than they get at their homes.
A Nursing home can provide your elderly parents with the highest level of medical care, which you may not find in other elderly homes. A licensed physician and nurses are always there on the premises to supervise your elderly parents.
But remember, nursing homes are not a hospital. So you will not find a laboratory or in house pharmacies here. But, yes, medical professionals are always there to check the blood pressure, heart rate, weight and other common things of your elderly parents.
The nursing home staff will always assist your parents in daily activities like bathing, feeding, dressing, and others. They even manage the medication of your elderly parents. Additionally, your parents can interact with other residents of a nursing home. In this way, they can increase their social interaction, which benefits their physical and mental health.
In Time We All Adjust
Aging is not easy on seniors or the people who care about them, but what must be done eventually gets done. We bring up the possibility of a move. We address the amount of help we will be able to provide. We stress that we are still there for support but that changes must be made. We do research, take tours, assist with packing, and do our best to be strong and help our loved ones acclimate. We adjust and eventually our parents adjust, too. Many seniors are happier after they have settled into senior living, but that doesnt make the process any less difficult.
Theres just no way to avoid this transition when it becomes necessary. The only way out is through. Moving from a persons own home to a care facility of any kind is emotional. Acknowledge your parents pain as well as your own. If you and your elder are struggling too much, get third party help. Often a close friend, a religious leader or a paid counselor can offer support and fresh ideas to assist you both in looking to the future rather than solely dwelling on the past.
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Medication Isnt Being Taken
This is one of the bigger red flags on the list. Medication isnt something to mess around with. Some elderly people try to avoid their medication or they decide to stop taking it altogether without telling their loved ones or doctors.
This isnt an option in a nursing home, though. Living in an assisted care facility means your loved one will have someone who makes sure they take all the medication they need. This gives you the peace of mind that he/she doesnt do something to compromise their health or a treatment theyre undergoing.
Take Tours Of The Facility And City When Possible
Taking a tour of the assisted living facility is an important part of making your parent more comfortable with the transition. Even if its just a virtual tour, it will help them feel more familiar with the space and what their new home will be like. And if they are moving to a new or unfamiliar city, taking them to tour the city will also help.
Tours can also help them to articulate what they do, or dont, like about a facility, and will give them more agency in the decision-making process of where to go. If you are interested in moving your parent into Origin at Spring Creeks Assisted Living facility, we highly recommend connecting with us to take a virtual tour with your parent.
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Organizing Your Loved Ones Room And Belongings
Planning Ahead Convincing Your Parent And Working With Your Siblings
It pays to be proactive. The more research and planning you do now, the more positive the outcome is likely to be in the future. By planning well ahead of time, you’ll be better prepared if an emergency occurs that requires you to make quick decisions. When it comes to putting a parent in a nursing home, decision-making shouldn’t feel rushed. The best outcomes are usually the result of advanced collaboration between parents and all of their adult children. Here’s how to develop your family plan:
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Q: What Can You Do If Your Parent Is Resistant Or Completely Opposed To An Assisted Living Facility
Ms. Drelich: Most older people are not jumping for joy to move into assisted living. The need for it is generally a result of a loss, such as the loss of a spouse, financial or physical difficulty in maintaining the home, etc.
Therefore, one has to be sensitive to their resistance, and rather than fighting it by saying you have to do this, take the time to hear what they are saying. You may have to back off for a short while, and then gently bring it up again at another time. A trusted physician or clergy member may also be helpful in joining in the conversation about their changing needs and the benefits of relocating.
I remember one daughter who had gotten into the routine of flying down to her mother in Florida at least once a month. When the mother wound up in the ER, she finally told her mother that she was terribly worried and wanted to be able to respond quickly to these emergencies, but she shared that the frequency of these trips were affecting her work and her marriage.
Hearing this, her mother finally agreed to move back to New York into an assisted living facility, which was a short drive away from her daughters home. The positives of this became that it would be less stressful for her daughter and she would be able to see her daughter and family more often.
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