Moving from a home where you have lived for a long time into a retirement community can be a roller coaster ride. Emotions are running high and where on one hand you are sad about uprooting from your long-term establishment, there is also the hope in a new start.
To add to the stress, there is the cleaning, sorting and packing process that can be hectic and challenging, especially for the elderly. It can be more stressful for someone who is leaving a family home behind as it will mean leaving behind a lot of happy memories. There are some things you can do to make the moving process easier.
Short Stay Trials
Many senior communities offer short-term or trial stays to help retirees understand the environment and whether it is suited to their needs. This offers them an opportunity to understand the new surroundings, make friends and explore the lifestyle. The key during these short stays is to try and meet as many staff members as possible. This allows the staff to understand their preferences and needs so they can suggest how to make this shift easier.
Tips to Seamless Moving
After deciding on the residence, there are some simple things to do to make the move easier.
Arrange Packers and Movers Early
Familiarize yourself with the admission process of the new residence. You should check with the staff on what time they expect you to arrive and whether they will provide assistance with the move. You should always ask if there are forms that can be filled out before the day of the move to avoid unnecessary stress.
Then, book the movers well in advance. Retirement villages like Summerset may have movers they recommend.
Measure the New Home to Fit Existing Furniture
Visit the residence before moving day. During this visit, measure the rooms and create a floorplan as it will help you decide beforehand where furniture will be placed.
Take Time To Pack and Relish the Memories
Take time to reminisce and cherish your present home. Go through the items that you are leaving behind, and remember the good memories you had in the house before you make the final move. This will give you time to live and enjoy your present home without being burdened with the sadness of leaving. You can remind yourself that you are not leaving behind memories but starting a new chapter to make more memories.
Try to Arrange the Furniture in the Same Way
If you have lived in one place for a long duration, you will have developed some motor habits associated with that house like automatically reaching out to a light switch at a certain spot, or a piece of furniture placed somewhere. These habits are difficult to shake off and can cause problems in adjusting to a new place, especially for those with dementia or Alzheimers.
Mimic the layout of your existing residence as much as possible at your new residence. This can be done by installing switchboards at a place of your convenience or placing furniture like it was placed at your previous home.
How Do Senior Living Facilities Help Newcomers?
Moving to a new place can be challenging to an elderly person. New residents are often faced with unfamiliar systems like how the dining room system works or what kind of activities are available for them to try, and also how they can sign up for transport facilities that can take them around the town when needed.
To help the newcomers navigate through these issues almost all senior care homes have welcome programs that can help the new residents understand the system and enjoy their stay hassle-free.
<H3>Welcome Baskets for Newcomers
Some senior residences provide welcome baskets with flowers, edible treats and local goodies to help the newcomers feel welcomed and loved. Usually, a dining schedule and contact information of the staff members are shared along with these baskets so the new residents can reach out to someone if they need help.
Welcoming Committee Meet and Greet
Some residences have a resident welcoming committee comprising current residents of the center. This helps newcomers break the ice and make new friends. Some centers also pair new members with current members so they can be helped in navigating through the daily challenges they might face.
Moving into a retirement home can be stressful, but the new community can make it a lot more enjoyable. The people moving also need to commit to moving in a thorough and measured way, to cut back on the stress. Together, they can work to make it a pleasant, happy time.
