Making the Transition to Assisted Living: Ideas to Help Someone Handle That First Night
Making the Transition to Assisted Living: Ideas to Help Someone Handle That First Night
Do you remember that very first night when you went off to summer camp as a child? What about your first day away from home at college or starting your new life on your own? Making significant life changes can be unsettling for many people. When an aging senior is transitioning to assisted living, they might appear enthusiastic or excited on the outside, and they may very well believe this would be a great thing for them, but it can still cause anxiety.
Those first nights can be difficult.
This is especially true when somebody is in a new environment after having lived in the same apartment, condo, townhouse, or home for years. Some seniors have been living in the same place for 20, 30, or more years and suddenly they are thrust into a completely new living environment.
There are steps family and friends can take to alleviate some of that stress.
The first step would be to call and check in.
Making a quick phone call in the late afternoon or early evening hours can tell that aging senior he or she is being thought of. That can provide some comfort. A familiar voice on the phone can be a great asset, but if they are waiting around in their room, skipping dinner, because they are waiting in hopeful anticipation for the call, it could increase stress.
Schedule a time you will call so they know they don’t have to wait around all evening.
The second step could be to agree to call right before bedtime and first thing in the morning.
When this person knows you’ll be calling to check in right before they go to bed, that can again provide some comfort. If they also realize you will be calling first thing in the morning, that friendly voice can give them some comfort and reassurance that everything will be okay in the long run.
The third step could include letting staff understand these specific concerns.
If there are specific anxieties or health challenges this elderly resident has, staff should be made aware of it when he or she moves in. They could keep a close eye on them, checking in with them from time to time. They will honor privacy concerns, of course, but a light knock on the door before they are scheduled to go to sleep could let that aging senior know there are people right there to help them if they need it throughout the night.
For more information about assisted living in Alamo Heights, TX, contact Pipestone Place Assisted Living or to take a tour, call today (210) 718-0211.
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