The holiday season is a time of warmth, tradition, and gathering with loved ones. If your family is facing the transition of a parent or aging loved one into an assisted living community during this time, it can feel overwhelming. Balancing the joy of the holidays with the challenges of this significant life event requires sensitivity, planning, and compassion.
Fortunately, with thoughtful support, this transition can be managed with grace, ensuring your loved one feels cherished and connected throughout the season and beyond. Our helpful article from the team at Emory Mills shares tips to make the process easier.
Provide Emotional Support for Your Loved One During a Move to Assisted Living
Moving to assisted living, especially during the holidays, can trigger a range of emotions, including sadness, fear, and anxiety. Your loved one may also feel a sense of loss over leaving a familiar home or worry about being excluded from family traditions.
Here’s how you can help reassure them of your support:
- Acknowledge their feelings: Create space for open conversations by letting them know that the transition to assisted living is a big change, and it’s okay for them to feel however they’re feeling.
- Involve them in the process: Include them in decisions about their new space, such as choosing furniture, decorating, or planning holiday get-togethers.
- Stay present and reassuring: Remind them that the move is about enhancing their quality of life, and that your love and connection will remain unchanged.
Learn more about the role of family in a successful transition to assisted living >>
Maintain Connection With Aging Parents During the Transition
Even though you’re moving your parent or aging loved one to a different location, it doesn’t mean the emotional connection should change. Focus on staying connected to help ease the transition and reinforce that they are still an important part of the family.
Consider the following ways to remain connected:
- Visit often and invite others: Schedule regular visits and encourage other family members and friends to visit or send cards and photos.
- Use technology: Set up video calls and schedule a virtual holiday event or gift-opening session if your loved one cannot attend in person.
- Coordinate with staff: Build a relationship with the assisted living staff and request updates on your loved one’s health and well-being.
Find out how senior living supports families >>
Create New Traditions While Honoring the Old
Family traditions are often the heart of the holiday season. However, it’s important to remember that they often evolve over time, especially as family dynamics change, like adult children having families of their own and aging loved ones transitioning to senior living. Blend old customs with new ones to help your parent or loved one maintain a sense of identity while embracing change.
Build from these ideas to prioritize family traditions:
- Bring traditions to them: Host part of the family meal at the assisted living community. Encourage everyone to bring their favorite dish, decorations, or music to recreate familiar moments in a new environment.
- Start new customs: Create new traditions that include their new space, such as a holiday craft session with other residents, a tree-decorating party, or a family movie night in their common area.
- Celebrate milestones together: Mark the holidays, birthdays, and other special events with visits, calls, or small celebrations. Stay consistent to reassure them how much they are loved and to instill a sense of belonging.
Discover the peace of mind senior living provides >>
A Season of Compassion and Connection
While moving a loved one to assisted living during the holidays may seem impossible, it can also be an opportunity to deepen family relationships and demonstrate unwavering support for one another. By honoring their emotions, maintaining strong connections, and thoughtfully blending old and new traditions, you can help ensure this transition is met with dignity, love, and hope.
Find Compassionate Care and Specialized Support at Emory Mills
Offering a scenic view of the valley with the convenience of city living, family-owned Emory Mills provides assisted living and memory care, as well as at-home care, for older adults. Our comforting, secure, and homelike environment supports each individual with person-centered care and the specialized, research-based I’m Still Here ® approach to meaningful and purposeful living, also known as The Hearthstone Difference.
Download our Family Decision Toolkit to get tips on making informed decisions on senior care.
