How to Approach the Topic of Moving to a Care Home

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It can be challenging to talk to your loved ones about moving them from their home to a group home. Especially when you consider that no matter their reaction, it’s perfectly understandable. Elderly individuals have a fear of being forced to leave their homes. They do not want to lose their independence and ability to perform self-care. After so many years of being their own person, and likely having cared for and raised other people, the idea of becoming reliant on someone else can seem to depower them.

The last thing you want to do is make a loved one feel upset or feel like you have made the wrong decision. However, this is a conversation that needs to be had long before their move-in-day arrives. Here are some tips for making things go as smoothly as possible.

Start the Conversation Early

It is easier to talk about moving to an assisted living home when the discussion feels more hypothetical. This allows older family members to fully participate in the conversation before their physical or mental health deteriorates to the point where they need care. Many elderly patients are in assisted living homes because they have dementia. When they reach the point where they need care, they don’t realize they have dementia. For this reason, having a conversation early is important.

Discussing the Situation with Someone Who Has Dementia

If you have not been able to talk about assisted living care with a loved one in advance, here are some tips for communicating effectively with a person who has dementia. Have the conversation in a quiet space with no background noise. Look directly at your loved ones so that they can see your expressions. Articulate clearly. Speak slowly and calmly, using short sentences.

The conversation about moving a loved one to a care home can be emotionally charged. Even so, it would help if you didn’t rush through what you needed to say. Pause between each sentence. Allow your loved one to process the information. These pauses will also enable them to respond if they wish. A healthy conversation can avoid a lot of hurt feelings and bad blood later on down the line.

Keep Things Positive

Some older adults see moving to residential care as a negative thing. It scares them to think about spending the last years of their life in a home. However, the experience can be positive. It would help if you talked positively about the situation. Encourage them to see how moving to an assisted living facility can help them enhance their life by making new friends, taking up new hobbies, and just getting out and about.

It is a big step for older adults to move from their homes to assisted living facilities. Be patient and supportive. With time, your loved one will see the benefits of moving to a group home and be comfortable in the choice. Until then it’s important to remain positive and open with them, making sure everyone is on the same page as to the reasons why this is the best decision you could make.

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