Moving an aging loved one into an assisted living community is a major life change, and one that can bring both relief and anxiety. While assisted living offers safety, support, and social opportunities, the transition can feel overwhelming for older adults. This article from Emory Mills shares how family involvement can help make the process easier for seniors by providing emotional comfort, practical help, and a sense of connection.
Emotional Support for a Transition to Assisted Living
For many seniors, leaving a home where they’ve raised a family means letting go of familiar routines and surroundings. A move to assisted living can trigger feelings of loss, uncertainty, or fear, and family can help their loved one navigate these emotions.
Families can support their senior loved one by:
- Offering reassurance that the move is about enhancing quality of life, not losing independence.
- Spending time together during the transition to show support and unconditional love.
- Listening to concerns, validating feelings, and encouraging open communication.
- Focusing on the positives, like new friends, engaging activities, and maintenance-free living.
Being there for your loved one can help reduce loneliness and anxiety during this new chapter.
Practical Support: What to Bring to Assisted Living
Families can make the move more manageable by helping with downsizing and packing, ensuring treasured belongings are transported with care. Attending community events with your loved one can also help ease the transition to the new environment. Your loved one can start to build relationships with staff members and other residents to gain a sense of belonging and familiarity with their new home.
Here are a few important things to bring to assisted living:
- Favorite clothing and shoes for each season
- Comforter, sheets, extra blankets, and pillows
- Family photos, keepsakes, and small decor to personalize the space
- Toiletries, towels, and washcloths
- Medications, medical records, and medication list
- Phone, tablet, or laptop with chargers
- Books, puzzles, or hobbies for leisure
- Favorite snacks and drinks
- Identification and legal papers
- Bed, sofa, and table and chairs (unless provided by the community)
Get tips on how to create a cozy, homey senior living space >>
Ongoing Involvement: Staying Connected After the Move
Continued family engagement is essential to your loved one’s comfort and happiness in an assisted living community.
Follow these guidelines to stay connected after the move:
- Visit or call on a regular basis.
- Participate in community activities.
- Advocate for your loved one’s care needs.
- Celebrate milestones, like birthdays or special achievements.
Moving to an assisted living community can be a positive new chapter for your loved one and your family. Remember to provide emotional support, practical help as needed and maintain an ongoing presence in their life.
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, to older adults. The comforting, secure, and homelike environment supports each individual with person-centered care and the specialized and research-based I’m Still Here ® approach to meaningful and purposeful living, also known as The Hearthstone Difference.
