Minimize the Stress of Moving to Assisted Living with Three Simple Strategies

Moving is one of the top three stressors in life. Believe it or not, even for somebody who is excited about an upcoming move (like buying their dream home after decades of hard work and waiting), it’s going to cause stress. That is true for people of all ages, including men and women in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who might be looking at transitioning to assisted living.

Stress can wear the body down. It can cause sleepless nights. It can even increase the risk of serious health issues, like heart attack, stroke, and much more.

If there is an aging senior in your life — mother, father, grandparent, spouse, sibling, or even a close friend, for example — and they have decided that assisted living would be best for them, and even if they are excited about the prospect because of all the activities they might participate in, the people they will connect with, friends they may see once again, and so much more, the move itself will likely cost stress.

Let’s look at a few ways that you can help minimize the stress he or she may feel when moving to assisted living.

Strategy #1: Plan ahead properly.

This essentially means that you don’t wait. Too many people wait until the last minute before trying to pack, either an apartment or house, or to get things done. When it comes to transitioning to assisted living, neither you (if you are the one helping out during this transition) nor the senior want to wait.

As soon as he or she commits to assisted living, they should begin making a plan. Find out the size of the room, what furnishings they can bring, if they’re allowed to hang pictures on walls, what other items they can bring with them, like a fish tank, a pet, or some other mementos.

The earlier you begin planning, the easier it’s going to be to minimize stress as the move in date approaches.

Strategy #2: Talk about the process with that senior.

An aging senior may have a very clear idea of what’s going to take place as the move in date approaches. However, things are going to be much different for them now than it may have been in the past to move. They are going to likely require a lot more assistance to get this done.

Talk about the entire process, from packing up, finding people who may want personal items, furniture, and so forth. Discuss as many details as you can with him or her.

If they don’t want to talk about it “right now,” they may just be stressed. Give them space, but keep coming back to the topic about the process and what to expect in the next few days and weeks.

Strategy #3: Ask questions and listen to his or her responses.

Too often, we get caught up in talking and fail to listen. Ask questions about how they feel, what they expect, what they want, and so forth. Then, be careful to listen to what they say.

They might not get what they want all the time, or even very often in some cases, but if they know you’re listening, it’s going to reduce the stress levels as this move date rapidly approaches.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to an Assisted Living facility near Mobile, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.