5 Tips to Adjust to a New Life in Assisted Living

March 24, 2017 by ·

Assisted living can offer many benefits for elderly individuals. A person doesn’t have to be dealing with a tremendous number of health related issues or physical limitations to enjoy life at one of these facilities. It is open to all seniors, whether they need any assistance at all or some level of help during the day.

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Assisted Living in Citronelle AL: 5 Tips to Adjust to a New Life in Assisted Living

Making the adjustment can be difficult for some people, especially if they have been living alone in their own home for most of their adult life. Below are five tips that can help seniors adjust more smoothly to their new life in assisted living.

Accept change.

It’s easy to say and difficult to do. However, for seniors who consider assisted living, they are already facing a number of changes in their life. It could be related to their health or physical challenges. If they continue to focus on what they used to be able to do, they will have a much more difficult time accepting the changes that are happening now.

The sooner they can accept the fact that changes are occurring due to the natural process of aging, the easier it will be for them during this transition.

Eat in the dining facility.

Some seniors may have an eat in kitchen or prefer to remain where they are, but it’s advisable that they get out and dine in the restaurant facility. This will not just expose them to other seniors, it will also get them in the routine of getting out of the room and mingling.

Check out the entertainment.

It could be a movie room, games, or anything else. If they have any interest in entertainment, they can simply go and sit and observe or watch a movie. They don’t have to talk to anybody. Eventually, though, the more exposure they get to other seniors who are going through similar challenges as they, the easier this transition will be.

Keep their door open for a time.

It’s easy for shy, withdrawn people to close their door on the world. However, keeping it open can invite other seniors to say hello.

Lean on staff.

If they need any help whatsoever, whether it’s to get into and out of the shower, if you have questions about certain activities or where they can go throughout the facility, they should be encouraged to lean on the staff members. The staff members are compassionate, kind individuals who truly want to make a difference in the lives of their elderly residents.

If you or an aging loved one are considering assisted living in Citronelle, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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