Some Key Tips for Making the Transition from Independent to Assisted Living
The decision to relocate from a private residence to a retirement home is not one to be hastily made. The weighty considerations of location, level of care, as well as the psychological consequences of such a radical lifestyle shift must be addressed in as open-minded and clear-headed a manner as possible. However, once the choice is made and an appropriate facility is decided upon, one’s thoughts must turn to the upcoming move and the unavoidable transition period ahead. Even the most logical and dispassionate of seniors are bound to feel conflicted at some point during this process. When this inevitably happens and doubt rears its ugly head, it helps to have a concise reference guide to consult in order to better aid a smooth adjustment phase. Here is a list of handy tips to keep in mind when transitioning from independent to assisted living, as presented by Dre’s Lodge Retirement Home.
Embrace the Emotional Changes
In such a situation, especially early on, emotions are bound to swell up. Many seniors find that within the first few months of living in a retirement home, a kind of regret or buyer’s remorse sets in, as they long for the conditions of their previous life. This is entirely understandable and ought to be embraced and dealt with rather than pushed away and ignored. In order to reach any kind of closure and acceptance, these feelings must be expressed and talked through with family and facility staff.
Make It Feel Like Home
A key step in making the transition to life in an assisted living community is making a senior’s new space feel as much like home as possible. It is useful to prominently display keepsakes and mementos of happy times from the past, as well as photographs of friends and family. Dre’s Lodge Retirement Home believes that if an item evokes especially fond memories, such as a quilt or piece of furniture, it ought to play a significant role in this new life, as well. As most retirement home residents will attest, little details such as this help immensely.
Establish a Routine
A consistent and predictable daily routine can help any new resident better acclimatize to life in a retirement home. Rising, dressing, showering, reading the newspaper, eating breakfast, or taking a walk at an appointed time each morning will provide a psychological anchor which a senior can depend on. For seniors that still work on a freelance basis, set a few hours each day to complete projects. Routines are reassuring and help to breed a sense of familiarity in an unfamiliar location. If they had a morning ritual in place before entering a retirement home, try and find a way for that ritual to continue.
Turn New Acquaintances into Friends
From the new resident’s point-of-view, one of the major upsides to relocating to a retirement home is a chance to be amongst their peers. Like any other demographic group, seniors are most at ease with their contemporaries. Beginning on the day of admittance, other inhabitants of the facility will go out of their way to introduce themselves. Introductions make acquaintances, and acquaintances fast turn into friends. New friendships are a crucial element in adjusting to life in a retirement home, as it gives a senior a reason to want to stay and be involved in their new community.
Stay Active
Maintaining an active lifestyle is an important part of transitioning to life in a retirement community. Integrating a bicycle ride, long walk, or session of mild calisthenics into a schedule can do wonders in improving their disposition. Many medical studies have found that daily exercise can work to fend off bouts of anxiety, depression, and loneliness, as well—all of which are problems that can plague new residents of retirement homes. Past that, daily exercise has an overall calming effect on those who practice it, and senior citizens are no different. Dre’s Lodge Retirement Home believes that during a tumultuous transition from independent to assisted living, it can make all the difference in the world.
Take Advantage of Day Trips and Outings
It is important that the new resident does not view their retirement home as a prison. Assisted living is meant to be just that; living life, only with some assistance. It is not meant to be an exercise in confinement. To that end, seizing any opportunity to leave the premises of the retirement home and retain some semblance of their previous autonomy should be encouraged, especially during a senior’s initial adjustment period. Most every retirement community offers guided daytrips to museums, theatres, parks, cinemas, and sporting events. Indeed, such outings are perfect occasions to share with visiting family or friends, as this will help seal the bonds between the past and present in a senior’s mind, promoting acceptance of their new life.
Avoid the Temptation to Reverse the Decision
It is tempting, especially while transitioning to life in a retirement home, for a new resident to dig out the admission papers, rip them up, call a moving company to come and pack up their belongings, and attempt to reverse the decision to relocate. Perhaps thoughts of buying back one’s old residence are entertained, or maybe a good-hearted relative might be imposed upon to provide them a spare room. These are not productive thoughts. If such thoughts do come creeping, a senior would do well to remember the reasons for choosing to relocate to a retirement home in the first place—the quality of care is superior, socialization with one’s contemporaries is much easier, and burdensome chores such as laundry and meal preparation are done by others.
That is, of course, not to say that the retirement home chosen is always a good fit—it might not be. After a few months living in a facility, it may become evident that, for whatever reason, the home may have some fundamental problems. Dre’s Lodge Retirement Home explains that if this is the case, the wisest course of action is to consult with trusted family members and work together researching other retirement communities that may better serve the senior’s needs. Then, if need be, another move can be made to a facility that is more appropriate.
