Your senior family member in assisted living or memory care has left their old life behind and learned to adapt to an entirely different way of living. Although the staff in these facilities strive to guarantee that this new phase of life is as comfortable, engaging, and happy as possible, your loved one may still have trouble adapting. It is essential to remember that once your loved ones move into a new community, they need you more than ever -maybe not for daily assistance but for emotional support. In this blog, we will explore some recommendations to facilitate their transition to assisted living and ensure their ongoing quality of life. After all, everyone needs a smile every day.
One of the most significant concerns that assisted living or memory care residents have is that their families will abandon or forget them. Therefore it is vital for their friends and family to make deliberate efforts to stay involved in their life. Here are some tips as to how you can ease your loved one’s mind and bring a smile to their face.
- Help them to get their errands done: Many assisted living residences offer shared transportation to help with necessary shopping or attending doctor’s visits. However, your senior family member would probably prefer to run those errands with someone they know and love. A weekly errand run is a perfect opportunity to spend quality time together, and accompanying them to their physician’s office can help to ease their mind. Whenever your senior loved one requires a ride, utilize that time to spend time together. Don’t forget to suggest looking for some r favorite snacks or drinks, a small bouquet of flowers, or a walk in a local park.
- Schedule a weekly meal together: While some assisted living residences only have dining rooms for those who live there, others have multiple dining options. Regardless of their dining and meal plans, these communities are happy to host friends and family members. Choose one meal a week and share it at the residence, whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you prefer, take them out to a favorite restaurant – but be consistent with the date and time so that they have something to look forward to each week.
- Coordinate weekly calls: More and more seniors are comfortable with technology, but even if you have to teach them how to use a device, your senior family member will embrace the opportunity to talk to children and grandchildren. Video calls utilizing apps such as Zoom make it easy to stay connected and bring a smile to everyone’s face. Your loved one will eagerly anticipate these weekly calls with people who are important to them, so be sure to invite lots of family members.
- Learn with them: Assisted living facilities typically offer an active social calendar filled with diverse activities for every taste. Those seniors who have the courage to try something new and meet new people often join in on many activities. However, many older adults feel need some encouragement to overcome their trepidation and try a new event, class, or excursion. Take the time to review the activities calendar with your family member and select an activity you can do together – then commit to accompanying them for the first few meetings or classes. If there is a special concert, ice cream social, or family picnic, attend with them and introduce them to other residents.
A Banyan Residence is an assisted living and memory care center in Venice. If you are looking for a professional and compassionate new home for your senior loved one, schedule a tour today.
