Helping Your Parent Adjust to Senior Living

The process of moving a loved one into a senior living community, and helping them adjust after the move, can feel like a daunting task. Thankfully, there are many things you can do to lend support throughout their transition into senior living, as well as on-site support available at senior living communities like Broadview at Purchase College and the High Point Center for Care.

Start Planning Early

It’s best to start discussing your parents’ move early, even if they still seem hesitant to commit to the decision. Make sure to begin this dialogue with patience, empathy, and support. Many seniors may fear a loss of independence, have a desire to age where they are, or simply feel overwhelmed by the prospect of such a big life change. Often, your parent may understand the eventual necessity of the change, but insist that they do not need to move yet. Emphasize the importance of planning for the future and the opportunities a senior living community could offer them. Allow conversation to feel open and don’t expect them to say yes right away; allow them to make this decision at their own speed and process their emotions.

To help ease their transition and allow your parent to maintain a sense of agency, involve them in the planning process while beginning this new chapter. Help them consider aspects like:

• What features would they like to see in their new home?
• What types of events or clubs would they like to participate in?
• On a more practical level, what is their budget?
• Their care needs for both now and the future?

Researching and touring various communities can help your parent mentally prepare for this move and encourage excitement toward this new chapter.

Help With Move Out and Settling In

Moving is a stressful endeavor for anyone, but especially for someone who has lived and built a life in the same home for many years. To help your parent to more easily process the complicated emotions that may arise, take this move in steps. The process of boxing up a house of belongings can be taxing, but helping your loved one pack can alleviate much of the physical and emotional demands of moving. As you sort through their belongings, discuss with them what could be given to friends or family, donated, sold, and what they would ultimately like to keep.

To help your loved one settle in with ease, take a visit to their new home before move-in day and discuss how they would like to arrange their living space. Would they like to bring their favorite chair to keep in their new living room, or perhaps get new furniture to celebrate this fresh start? If the space is pre-furnished, discuss what personal touches they could add to make the space theirs. Some of their bulkier belongings may not fit in the new space, but you can almost always find a place for the important, sentimental pieces like their favorite mug, their coziest bedding sets, and photographs of loved ones. These familiar touches will help them feel at home and in charge of their own space.

Senior living communities like Broadview also offer resources like senior move managers or relocation specialists. Reach out to learn more about the resources or on-site support different communities can offer or recommend.

Getting To Know Their Community

Senior living communities like Broadview and High Point offer a range of resources, activities, and events that will allow your parent to connect with their new community and have fun while doing so. Look through the community’s website together for information on upcoming activities they may be interested in. Encourage them to try new hobbies and put themselves out there. Perhaps they have never tried yoga before, but if their community is offering a guided class for residents, this could be a great opportunity to learn something new and meet other residents.

If you worry that your parent may not seek out these opportunities themself, ask a staff member to invite them to these events directly. The staff at senior living communities can be a key resource in supporting new residents through this transition, while giving you the chance to take a step back and allow them the space to adjust with a measure of independence. Outreach from community staff will help your parent feel noticed and welcome in their community. Socializing and taking advantage of all their community has to offer will also help them focus on the amazing positives of their new home.

Checking In

While you want to offer your parent the support they need throughout this transition, hovering and fretting over them can often cause undue stress for both of you. Frequent visits early on may feel helpful, but if this is preventing your parent from becoming involved in their community, then it can ultimately prevent them from adapting on their own. Make a regular schedule to call them, and, after moving them in, perhaps hold off on visiting for a short time. Know that you have set them up with resources, support, and encouragement, and it is now time to give them the independence to make the most of their new environment.

Transitioning to senior living takes time, and there may be hard days and setbacks. It is normal to struggle with feelings of guilt or even miss a time before they moved. Remember that this is a period of transition for you, too. You helped your parent move so that they could benefit from an increased level of care and support beyond your assistance as their child or loved one. It’s wonderful to care and do everything you can to help, but also keep in mind that many seniors who make the move to independent living and assisted living find a new community of friends and hobbies in their new home, and wish they’d moved sooner.

Broadview Is Here To Help

It can be difficult to watch a loved one struggle through a transition, even when you know that this change will benefit them greatly. The transition to a senior living community can be an adjustment, and Broadview at Purchase College and the High Point Center for Care are here to help you every step of the way. Our senior moving and relocation specialists have resources for every area of transition, from selling a home to downsizing to settling into a new community.

And once your loved one is here, we merge care with opportunities for enrichment and learning to help your parent engage with their community and find excitement in this new chapter. We also offer comprehensive levels of care to best suit their needs, so you can feel confident about the support they’re receiving. Contact us to find out how we can help your loved one adjust to senior living.