How to Help a Parent Move Into a Niagara Falls Retirement Home
Has your parent (or parents) decided to move into a retirement residence in Niagara Falls? This is a monumental decision, and you will no doubt be part of the process.
Along with ensuring that they are living in a safe environment, this move will encourage them to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle. Indeed, there are many things for them to look forward to, including entertainment and leisure experiences; delicious, well-balanced meals; and other conveniences.
However, there will be quite a bit of work involved before they make their move into their retirement home.
Here are some ways to ease the transition – both for them and yourself.
Tips to Ease a Parent’s Move into a Retirement Residence in Niagara Falls
Use these tips to minimize your father and/or mother’s stress and anxiety when moving them into a retirement residence in the Niagara Region.
1. Communicate with Them
We are all emotionally invested in our homes, so there may be apprehension and sadness associated with this move. That’s why it’s important to give them time to grieve the change and discuss their feelings about it openly. This will make the transition easier and smoother.
Remember, when an aging senior is asked to leave the home they have been living in for years, it can cause distress because of a perceived loss of control. During such times, it’s necessary to be understanding towards their feelings and to help them plan the move and settle into their new Niagara Falls retirement residence.
2. Focus on the Benefits
When someone has lived in the same place for years, it’s easy for them to obsess over what they may be leaving behind. That’s why it’s a good idea for their caregivers to point out the new opportunities that will be presented to them once they have made the transition to their new living situation. Here are some things to consider:
- Find Things That Make Them Happy
When your aging loved one is moving into a retirement community, look at the facility’s activity calendar and point out the many opportunities they will have. Also look at the amenities to which they will have access.
- Focus on the Positives
Highlight the fact that they won’t have to worry about chores, like doing the dishes and laundry, anymore. Retirement communities typically have staff to take care of such tasks. Additionally, they will receive assistance with other daily needs, like taking their medication and bathing.
3. Include Them in Decision-Making
When you don’t include your parents in the decision-making process, they can feel alienated. This makes the move all the more challenging. And since your parents may already feel like their life is not in their control anymore, it will only make matters worse for everyone.
That’s why it’s a good idea to help them feel and maintain a sense of control with honest and open communication about their needs. Ask them to be involved at each step of the process. After all, they are the one who will have to live there and should have a say in the decision-making process.
4. Help them Sort and Organize
Moving into a retirement residence in Niagara Falls means they will have to downsize. This is a chance for you to help them go through their belongings and categorize objects to make the process easier. With your help, they will be able to move items they need into the facility. Furthermore, help them sort through keepsakes that can be left with family and items that can be donated, sold or thrown out.
However, don’t pack things without taking their feelings into consideration. Honour their emotional attachment to their possessions and give them space to reminisce. Remember, there may be many memories associated with them.
5. Acknowledge the Difficult Parts
While you may be painting their move into the retirement residence in Niagara Falls in a positive light, it’s important not to talk at them.
Focus on the new opportunities, activities, and people to which they will be exposed. But also listen to (and acknowledge) their fears and do what you can to help them get through them. They are more likely to listen to you if they feel that you have listened to them.
Moving into a retirement residence in Niagara Falls can be a daunting experience for a family member. Leaving the family home that they have lived in for years can increase their anxiety. Use these tips to ease their transition and ensure it goes smoothly. In the end, empathy always wins out, and a reassuring voice and a listening ear can help validate your parent(s)’ feelings.