4. Stay involved with the surrounding community.
by Admin
Posted on 12-04-2024 12:36 PM
Would your loved one thrive in a more luxurious community? or would they be more comfortable in a laidback environment? what types of activities do they enjoy and want to stay involved in?
each
assisted living
community has its own unique personality, and you will want to find one where your loved one will feel at home.
All adults benefit from healthy amounts of cognitive stimulation, but particularly older adults with some degree of dementia. Senior living communities often have a selection of engaging programs for residents, including academic-style classes, lectures, athletics, group excursions, art workshops, performances and film screenings, which can all help keep the mind sharp. Prioritizing these types of opportunities at the start of a transition can bolster happiness, cognitive health and an overall sense of purpose. Loved ones also play a vital role in helping older adults stay engaged. “find things of vital interest to them,” says haskell. “ask them for help, and work to get them involved enough to realize there are things that are interesting out there to do.
5. Stay in touch with loved ones.
Of course, never ever neglect your loved ones while they’re living in an assisted living community. We understand that you may be busy with your other responsibilities in life, but it’s extremely important to pay a visit to your loved ones once every week. If you’re unable to accommodate this schedule, you should at least visit once every month. Such visits allow your loved ones to stay in touch with you, while you can be updated with your loved ones’ progress and health.
even if the move to an assisted living facility is unexpected, you can still prepare for it. Before move day rolls around, go through your belongings (or help your loved one), and decide what to keep and what to donate.
Taking time to pare down before the big move makes the process faster and simpler. If you have trouble getting rid of things, consider making three piles, we call them the abc piles. The “a pile” are the items to keep. The “b pile” are the items to donate or give away to loved ones. And the “c pile” are the items to throw away.
No matter your situation, moving is always stressful. But when you’re contemplating leaving your home for an assisted living facility, stress is just the tip of the emotional iceberg. You may associate grief with the death of a loved one, but grief is a natural response to any loss. And the loss of your home, neighborhood, and community is a big one. [read: coping with grief and loss] the thought of leaving everything you know can make you feel very vulnerable. You may feel like you’re losing your independence or a big part of your identity. It’s important to realize that all of these feelings are normal.