| For many seniors, the move to an assisted living | | | | When you are considering what should be moved to |
| residence is emotionally very difficult. If they are | | | | the new residence, remember to make sure that you |
| lucky enough to be "with it", they know that the | | | | have a place for everything. You don't want too |
| move is required because they are no longer able to | | | | much clutter that will collect dust and get in the way. |
| safely live on their own. That realization is very | | | | There is a delicate balance between having enough |
| sobering and is a step along the lifecycle that is often | | | | of those familiar items to make it feel like home, and |
| not welcome. The other scenario is when the new | | | | trying to stuff too much into what is almost certainly |
| resident is not completely aware of what is | | | | a smaller space than the new resident is used to. |
| happening and that can be just as difficult when they | | | | At the same time, be sure that there is a simple way |
| suddenly find themselves in new surroundings without | | | | for Mom or Dad to keep everything in its place. They |
| a full understanding as to why things have changed. | | | | will feel much more in control of their environment |
| In either case, there are simple ways to make an | | | | when it is easy for them to find what they are |
| assisted living residence feel like home. | | | | looking for in their home. Take the time to organize |
| Be sure to bring along some familiar items. It might | | | | the closets and invest in storage solutions such as |
| be tempting to buy a new bedspread for your Mom, | | | | baskets or bins as necessary. Make sure that your |
| much like you would do for your daughter who is | | | | parent knows where things are, even labeling |
| heading off to college. However, Mom might much | | | | cupboards and drawers if that helps. When you visit, |
| prefer that familiar old spread that makes the new | | | | take the time to look around and make sure that |
| space feel like HER bedroom, and not a hotel. | | | | things are where they should be. |
| Similarly, while your Dad probably can't move his | | | | Advocate! One of the best ways to make the |
| entire condo into his new assisted living home, you | | | | assisted living residence feel like home is for your |
| can make room for his favorite chair and footstool. | | | | Mom or Dad to have social connections there. If your |
| Make sure to place lots of familiar and favorite | | | | Dad is entirely "with it", make sure to ask the |
| knick-knacks around the new space too, and don't | | | | administration to introduce him to others who are |
| forget about cherished family photos. Remember | | | | too. Make sure that he's not seated at dinner with |
| that this move is not an exciting time for your | | | | three people who are in various states of memory |
| parent, and is probably not something he or she is | | | | loss, as that is a sure way for him to dislike his new |
| looking forward to, even if she recognizes its | | | | surroundings. On the other hand, if your Mom has |
| necessity. | | | | some memory issues but is still physically very active, |
| Decorate the new space so that it doesn't look or | | | | be sure to request that she not be seated that first |
| feel institutional or generic. Many assisted living | | | | night with a group who are all mobility impaired. I |
| communities will allow a new resident to specify a | | | | promise that if you do, she'll notice and tell you that |
| paint color at no charge, or will allow you to have the | | | | everyone else is "too old" for her to socialize with. In |
| space painted a non-standard color as long as you | | | | short, as with any other transition, it's important that |
| leave a deposit to cover the repainting later on. | | | | your parent immediately finds a few people with |
| Warm colors on the walls will help make the new | | | | whom he or she can relate, who are "just like them". |
| space feel cozy. Likewise, be sure to bring any | | | | This will make the move into assisted living go much |
| favorite wall art or lamps along, and don't hesitate to | | | | more smoothly for all. |
| have some window treatments made up. They are | | | | ©2009 LifeBridge Solutions, LLC. All rights |
| not expensive, and go a long way toward | | | | reserved. |
| customizing a space. | | | | |