Tips for Making Moving Easier for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s
People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease frequently have problems adapting to change. This can make moving, which is already a logistical challenge, a big emotional challenge as well.
If you plan to move your loved one into your own home or an assisted living facility, you should be prepared to do so in a way that will make the transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. Here are some tips from a provider of senior in home care service in San Jose, CA to keep in mind while moving a person with Alzheimer’s.
Plan thoroughly
As much as you can, talk to your loved one about their living arrangements while they are still able to make some choices for themselves. You might find it difficult to guess what they actually want as the disease progresses, so it’s important to begin the planning process early.
If your loved one is moving to a residential care home, plan to make frequent visits to that facility at various times of day before the move actually occurs to scope it out and get a sense of how it operates. Talk to the staff about your loved one’s needs and background, likes and dislikes, and make sure you provide plenty of details about his or her medical and mental health history. Of course providing a full list of all medications and other medical needs are essential and required by regulations.
It might not always be sensible to bring your loved one along for these visits. Only bring them with you if you believe the visit would not create unnecessary stress or anxiety.
Make their new home familiar
It’s going to be a difficult adjustment at first for your loved one in their new living space, but you can try to make it as comfortable as possible by incorporating familiar decorations and furnishings. A favorite chair, some family photos, meaningful possessions and a shelf with other special items can all help your loved one feel more connected to their new home and like they have some sense of ownership of it. Be sure to have photo albums within easy reach as well, and label the pictures to ensure staff members are able to identify the people in the photos.
The moving day
When the actual move occurs, try to stick to your loved one’s routine as much as possible—same time to wake up, same times to eat, same time for coffee, etc. If possible, see if you can make the move during the time of day that tends to be best for your loved one.
Keep a positive atmosphere throughout the entire move, even (and especially) if you run into any logistical challenges. If your loved one gets the sense you are stressed or worried, they will likely begin to get stressed out as well.
These are just a few tips that will help you make your loved one’s move go as smoothly as possible. For more moving tips and information about our in home care services customized for those with Alzheimer’s, we encourage you to contact Senior Care Connection, Inc. today.
Categorised in: Senior Home Care