Understanding the Transition to Assisted Living Facilities

There are over 30,000 assisted living communities across the United States. This news is reliving because you've been relying on geriatric care management, but it's not enough anymore.

Now you know you've got options to place your aging parents in good hands. But there is a catch: transitioning to an assisted living facility can be difficult.

You've found a way for your aging parents to continue independent living, which is great. However, people of all ages have trouble dealing with such large life changes. It's normal for your loved ones to have issues adjusting.

There are ways to make the move easier for you, your family, and your loved ones. Below is a step-by-step guide on transitioning to an assisted living community.

Choose the Right Community

Choosing the right community shouldn't be a rush job. Ideally, you should take your time and list a few assisted living communities before you need to move.

Family, friends, and neighbors are great sources of information. Ask them if they know of any good care communities.

Visit your chosen communities and ask leadership, staff, and caregivers questions about their elderly care services. For example, how do they accommodate age-related diseases like Alzheimer's?

Remember to inquire about the community grounds. Here's a list of questions you should ask about the care center.

Observe staff and resident interactions. Look at whether the residents appear clean and well taken of. Trust your intuition if something feels off.

Research Assisted Living Costs

Look into each community's pricing model before you choose. Some offer all-inclusive pricing -- they charge a single fee for all their services. Others offer tier-based prices based on how much care your loved one needs.

Ask about pricing even if the community says its prices are all-inclusive. If it says the rate changes by the level of care given, it isn't all-inclusive.

Something else to note: Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Medicaid is more complicated. It doesn't pay for the room and board, but you can look into waivers to mitigate costs.

Visit Again Before Moving In

Another pre-move visit is optional, but it never hurts. You and your loved one can use this time to visit the campus and speak to current residents. Speak with the staff and tour the community.

Ask if you can participate in a few social events. It's best to call ahead so they can have an itinerary for your visit.

Pack and Take Care of "Housekeeping"

Check if your chosen community has packing services. If not, here are a few tips to help you and your loved ones. Prioritize the important things, and don't stress about handling everything immediately.

Begin with toiletries, medications, clothes, bedding, bedding, and furniture. Once that's done, you can move on to less vital, but still important, things stored throughout the house. Making lists will help immensely.

During packing, you should take care of any "housekeeping." Housekeeping means canceling utilities like internet and cable.

Have the postal service forward your parent's mail to the assisted living community. Update the address on credit (or debit) cards, bank accounts, magazine subscriptions, and other services it's listed on.

The community may have services to help with this. Keep a record of moving expenses as they're tax deductible.

Allow For Emotional Transitioning

This move is like when your child (or you) moved away for college. They may have been ready, but they still had fears and doubts. The same applies to your loved one.

They're all packed, but they still may have reservations. Reach out to support groups -- it doesn't matter if they're friends, family, spiritual guides, or online sources.

Talking through you and your parents' fears is normal and healthy. Always remember that everyone has their own pace for emotional transitioning -- and that's okay.

Arrange the Living Space

The best way to make a space feel like home is to make it yours. Help your parents arrange their apartment to be as similar to their home as possible. Display sentimental things prominently and in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Suppose your chosen assisted living center's packing services should be able to help with the process. If they don't have these services, you and your loved one can have fun setting the apartment up to their standards.

Getting Acquainted With the Neighborhood

Staying in their new apartment doesn't mean your loved ones are acclimated to their assisted living center. Their new home is part of a community, meaning they've got plenty of neighbors.

Everyone they meet is a potential new friend, so encourage your parents to get to know people throughout the community. Their neighbors have gone through a transition period, so they can be a great support network.

Your elderly loved one will spend time getting to know many staff members. This includes caregivers responsible for creating and maintaining care plans.

The collective staff's job is to make your loved ones feel comfortable. So neither you nor your parents should be afraid to ask questions.

You should visit as much as possible, especially during their first weeks in the community. Discuss what you've each done while apart -- perhaps over a meal.

Some assisted living communities have a range of dining opportunities, like dine-in and take-out, so ask about your options. Encourage your parents to take part in social events.

Arguably, the best part of an assisted living community is all the activities for seniors. They can get to know everyone and discover new hobbies.

Is Your Loved One Transitioning to an Assisted Living Facility?

Transitioning to an assisted living facility can be difficult, but it is easier with preparation and patience. Addington Place of Muscatine has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere while delivering professional care to its residents.

Your loved ones will find plenty to do with our organized activities for seniors. We offer medication management, transportation, and supportive services like dressing and bathing.

Addington Place even has memory care for those with dementia and other memory-related issues. Don't hesitate. Contact us if you have questions or would like a tour.