Settle in to Assisted Living

Settling into something new is not always easy. For an aging loved one who has chosen assisted living, even if they were enthusiastic and excited about the idea, it might take time for them to adjust.

There are plenty of things you, as a family member, can do to help them. It doesn’t matter whether you are their spouse, sibling, adult child, or even their grandchild or friend. Below are a few simple ideas anyone can do to help that senior in their life get more adjusted to assisted living, or at least have a little bit more fun as they do.

 

Make a Spa day.

This doesn’t mean you have to bring in a masseuse or a bunch of professionals, but rather make this like a mother-daughter day, perhaps when you were younger and she did that for you.

Pampering is a great way to help somebody feel more comfortable and relaxed. When you do this in the comfort of their new home, you can help them feel more at ease with their surroundings. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated, and, in fact, keeping it simple is the better approach.

Let the seniors choose the color of nail polish, file down and buff their nails, paint them, and have some fun conversation as you do it.

You can also consider bringing them a shower seat or even a foot massager they can enjoy whenever you’re not there. You may even want to schedule a trip to a local salon for hairstyling. Depending on the assisted living facility, there might be one right on site.

 

Talk about interior decorating.

When your living space is decorated the way you like, with your own personal touches everywhere, it can make any space feel like home. Consider different ways you can help this new assisted living room feel and look more like the one they had left, perhaps a place they lived in for decades.

You’ll want to check with the elder care facility before you do this as some have certain regulations and expectations in place with regard to what can be hung, what can be added, and how much furniture or other mementos can be included.

If you are allowed to be creative with the interior design, it can help this new assisted living community feel more like home quickly.

 

Have a movie day.

You don’t have to take this senior to the movie theater, but find out what some of his or her favorite movies or music were in their younger years. Bring a set of DVDs and CDs or a portable device that you can play on their TV and enjoy some time together.

When you bring back a blast from their past, you can help them overcome some of the anxieties and challenges that come with accepting and settling into a new elder care facility.

These are just three quick ways that you might be able to help that aging senior in your life become more comfortable and settled into their new assisted living community.

If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to Assisted Living in Cave Creek, AZ please contact the caring staff at MD Senior Living today. 480-267-9200