| When family members see their parents or loved | | | | stay, but many will allow a perspective resident to |
| ones staring to need additional help they are faced | | | | enjoy a complimentary meal or two. This experience |
| with having to make the decision to move them to | | | | allows the senior to meet some of the residents and |
| Assisted Living. The assisted living environment offers | | | | sample the food and services of the community. The |
| seniors the freedom to live independently in a | | | | senior may also want to attend a special event or a |
| supportive setting. They can have as little or as much | | | | particular activity that interest them. All of these |
| help as needed. The socialization that seniors get in | | | | things should be done without putting pressure on |
| Assisted Living leads to a much better quality of life. I | | | | the senior to make a decision. If the senior feels |
| have had several residents tell me over the years, | | | | forced they will be more hesitant to move. |
| that they wish they would have moved in sooner. | | | | 2. Listen to what is being said- Is the senior afraid of |
| The problem arises when the senior refuses to | | | | loosing their freedom or independence, are they |
| move. Here are a couple of effective strategies for | | | | afraid of giving up their personal belongings, or are |
| helping a senior make the transition to assisted living. | | | | they holding on to an outdated concept of senior |
| 1. Try before you buy- The best thing to do for a | | | | housing? You have to listen closely and help the |
| reluctant senior is to get them used to the idea | | | | senior work through their concerns. Sometimes the |
| slowly. There are several options for getting seniors | | | | concerns are simply a cover for not wanting to |
| slowly acclimated to the idea of moving into assisted | | | | move at all. If this is the case time and patience will |
| living. You can try a Respite stay which is a short | | | | are your best ally. |
| term stay, in a community that does not require a | | | | These tips are great starting points and the |
| long term contract. Respite stays are generally from | | | | professionals at the community can help you to |
| 2 days to 2 weeks. Having your loved one stay for | | | | come up with other strategies. Keep an open mind, |
| the weekend will give them a good feel for what the | | | | use some creativity, and be as patient as possible |
| community has to offer and often, is enough to | | | | and most of the time you will be able to help the |
| dispel some of the dated misconceptions that seniors | | | | senior make the move to a senior living community. |
| hold. Most communities charge a fee for a respite | | | | |