Pushing a loved one away is difficult. However, when he or she is in need of specialized care that one cannot provide at home, it is necessary to find a place that will be more nurturing and suitable for them. Changing homes is never easy, and for seniors, it is even more difficult due to the emotional and health challenges involved. Helping your parents or grandparents move out of their home and into a senior care facility need not be awkward or unpleasant.
Here are five ways you can smoothen out the process –
- Communicate clearly
A home is the most significant investment in a person’s life. A person who has lived for decades in an apartment or a house might find himself or herself emotionally attached to the place. You need to consider the emotional turmoil of the senior as he or she agrees to live in an assisted living facility. Give them time to process the change, allow them the chance to grieve if necessary and offer them help at every step.
- Plan ahead
A person needs to start planning for his or her retirement the day he or she joins work. Adults should take time aside to set a budget for assisted living.However, that is something none of us do, and our parents have not done as well. Therefore, we need to begin planning for our parents’ post-retirement life ASAP. That includes the costs of living, medical expenses, travel expenses, and estate plans.
- Get ready for downsizing
Moving to a retirement community will need downsizing. Our grandparents and parents have gone through decades’ worth of stuff and collected some. While moving to a new facility, they need to weed out things they do not need. You can help them by storing a few keepsakes in your attic or basement. If the bulk is too much to handle, you can try storage lockers.
- Assess the need
Not every senior citizen requires the same type of assistance. Many merely require community living to enrich their otherwise independent lifestyle. Others, with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, may require dedicated memory care facilities. The extent of care will also determine the cost and the need for downsizing.
- Get ready for moving day
Once you have packed the bags and labeled the boxes, it is time for you to ensure that your loved ones are mentally and physically ready to make the transition. You can go with a full-service mover, or you can offer to drive them there, in case their luggage in manageable. The cost of moving will depend on the state and city. Find out about the route, community moving timings, and other details before you floor the gas.
A large part of moving to a retirement home should be DIY. It not only helps the soon-to-be residents to process the change, but t also helps their children face reality. Turning the packing, sorting, repairing and planning into a family project helps the members bond and communicate before the senior members move to a better and more comfortable living facility.
