Are you starting to search for a memory care community for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease? These tips can help make the move to memory care go more smoothly.
If you are preparing for a senior loved one’s move to a memory care community, you might not be sure how and where to start. Moving a loved one who has memory loss can create unique challenges. Knowing how to manage them can make the transition go more smoothly for everyone.
7 Tips for Managing a Senior’s Move to Memory Care
These tips can help you with everything from downsizing to planning for moving day.
1. Establish realistic goals: Our first tip is to set realistic goals for this process. Unless your loved one’s safety or health is at risk and you need to move in a hurry, try to work at a pace you feel comfortable with. It can help you feel more confident that you are making good decisions which can, in turn, help decrease anxiety for you and your senior loved one.
2. Create a floor plan: Once you have selected which community your loved one will be moving to, ask the staff for a floor plan of the apartment. Make sure it has all of the dimensions for each room listed. Then you can get to work creating a layout in which all the furniture and belongings will fit.
3. Identify “must move” items: Creating an environment that looks familiar is important when a senior has memory loss. So give some thought to those pieces of furniture and the belongings your loved one is most attached to. Perhaps it is a chair they like to sit in and watch television or a quilt they’ve had for years. Make certain those items have a place in their new home.
4. Downsizing: Some families prefer to get their senior loved one settled in a memory care community before they begin the process of downsizing. For others, selling the home first might be a financial necessity. Either way, it can be emotional to downsize and sell a loved one’s home. It often helps to begin in the rooms used less often and to sort belongings by their final destination. Label boxes with tags that say “Move,” “Donate,” “Family,” and “Trash.” As you work your way through the house, separate items into the appropriate box.
5. Get involved before the move: Depending upon what stage of the disease your loved one’s Alzheimer’s is, it might help to visit the community a few times and get involved in activities before their actual moving day. Life enrichment programs at memory care communities are designed to help older adults feel successful and independent. For people with memory loss who may be struggling, that is important. Talk with the staff at the community for advice and guidance about getting involved early.
6. Create a schedule: Once you have a move-in date established, take time to create a schedule and plan for a smooth transition. You might also want to explore moving resources, such as senior move managers and senior certified realtors. They can help you with everything from packing up the home to obtaining quotes from movers.
7. Moving day plans: Our last tip is to plan carefully for moving day. You might need to ask a trusted friend to care for your loved one on moving day while you supervise the movers. Your loved one might be able to go to the community ahead of you, have lunch, and attend an activity in lieu of being home for a chaotic day of moving. Don’t forget to put together a box of moving day essentials you want to the senior’s new apartment transport yourself.
At Legacy Senior Living, we know the search for a memory care community for a senior you love can feel overwhelming. We are happy to answer any questions you might have about moving a loved one with memory loss. Call the community nearest you to set up a time for a private visit.