3 Tips For Moving Your Loved One To Assisted Living
Moving to a new residence can be a stressful time for anyone, but the issue is compounded when your loved one is moving to assisted living. There are ways you can make the moving process more streamlined so they can begin adjusting to a different living situation.
Plan Carefully
Whenever possible, careful planning will make the move less stressful. For example, you probably do not want to move your loved one on the weekend or at certain times of day when traffic can be more hectic. If these times are unavoidable, try moving a comfortable chair or their bed ahead of time so your loved one can be transported at a different time when the streets are less busy. Other considerations will be any medical issues your loved one has. The need for oxygen or essential medications may require specialized transport. It is safer to have your loved one use medical transport services than to risk being stuck in traffic for an unknown amount of time.
Take Pictures
The transition from living independently to assisted living will be harder if your loved one has been in the same residence for many years. Another consideration is when dementia or Alzheimer's disease is a concern. To minimize your loved one feeling frightened about being in a new place, take pictures of the old place to use as a guide. If your movers will also put furniture in specific rooms, this can help guide them on where to place items. Family and friends can organize items in the new place to look familiar. You will want at least one room to look almost identical to the previous location, especially where your loved one spends most of their time. In addition to careful positioning of the furniture, pay attention to pictures, wall decorations, and bookshelves.
Load In A Logical Order
The way items are packed and loaded into the truck will factor in to how quickly the process goes. Have designated areas for the least important boxes and furniture items and ask your movers to load them onto the truck first. This leaves the most important items that will need to be unloaded and unpacked nearest the door and easily accessible. Since assisted living facilities are often smaller accommodations, your loved one may have to downsize in the process. Using this loading tactic will leave items that will be placed in storage or sent to another person's home in the back and out of the way.
Transitioning to assisted living will be easier if the moving process goes smoothly. Careful planning and addressing any medical issues ahead of time will minimize the amount of stress your loved one experiences. A moving company like Fairfax Transfer and Storage Inc can help with the process as well.