York Gardens
  • Home
  • Senior Living Options
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care >
      • Ebenezer Memory Care
    • Enhanced Care Suites
  • Lifestyle
    • News and Events
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • CONTACT US
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Pre Winter Special

Moving Your Loved One To Memory Care? Four DOs and DON'Ts To Help Make It An Easier Transition. 

6/20/2016

8 Comments

 
There are many different ways that families communicate with their loved one about a move to memory care. The most successful plan will be designed to meet your loved one’s needs. Some family members don’t tell the person they are going to move, knowing this could create undue anxiety. Other families are completely honest with their loved one about the need for “more care” and they have their loved one participate in the move. However you decide to handle the communication, make sure all family members are on the same page, and keep in mind the following guidelines:  
​

DON’T keep reminding your loved one they are moving if it makes them anxious. You might try telling them once, in a matter of fact manner, to see how they take it. If it stresses them out to talk about a move, don’t keep bringing it up.
DO reassure the person that they will be getting more help. Because of their dementia, they may bring up the same concerns or fears over and over. Let the person voice their concerns, and be understanding in your replies, i.e. “I can see why you’re worried about that. We’ll figure it out.”
 
DON’T pull your loved one into the details of the planning and packing process. Don’t ask them to decide what to bring and what to leave behind. With memory loss, decision making and any process with multiple steps will present challenges. If you don’t already know which objects or knick-knacks are most important to your loved one, spend time observing what things around their home they use and enjoy on a regular basis.
DO work with a move manager. A great example comes from a family who had one daughter take mom out for a morning of shopping followed by lunch, while the other daughter was assisting the move manager. The move manager set up the new apartment to look almost identical to the room in the old house where mom spent most of her time. When they brought mom into her new apartment, she knew something was different, but she felt very much at home right away.
 
DON’T over-pack. Memory care apartments are small for a reason – large spaces with lots of “stuff” can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing for people with memory loss. A smaller space with a manageable amount of items in it eases the mind. Again, pay attention to what your loved one actually uses throughout the day and bring just what he or she needs. If your loved one misses something, you can always bring it later.
DO consider leaving the TV at home. As memory loss progresses, TV shows can be hard for people to follow. They can also be upsetting, as they can be confused with reality. Bring music, family photo albums and art or photography books instead – they are more therapeutic. Consider leaving valuables behind too. A person with dementia often picks something up, puts it down, and then forgets where it is. Save yourself the heartache of a missing wallet or priceless family heirloom by not bringing it to the new memory care apartment.
 
DON’T get started too late in the day. Try to get the move done so that your loved one is settled in their apartment by 2 or 3 p.m. at the latest. As the day progresses we all get tired, but a person with dementia will not cope as well as the rest of us. Enlist more moving help if you need the extra hands to be finished by 2 p.m. – it will make the transition smoother.
DO remember that people usually adjust quite well to their new environment, but that this could take around 2-4 weeks. Be reassured in knowing the staff in the memory care community are there to help your loved one settle into a comfortable routine. Because the new environment (not only the apartment but also the programming and the structure of the day) is designed to fit the needs of a person with dementia, you will start to notice your family member more at ease than they were before the move. When your focus returns to your relationship with your loved one, rather than the details of day to day caregiving, you will also be more content, knowing you have made the right decision.
8 Comments
custom writing link
3/1/2017 11:25:06 pm

You describe in great detail how to handle people who find themselves in this situation. It helps a lot.

Reply
writingservices 4 me link
7/26/2017 10:27:15 pm

The compliance with such rules will save our loved one from unnecessary anxiety. This approach will be correct when planning a move.

Reply
certified translators link
1/11/2018 06:26:03 am

Well, it's really hard to care about people who suffer memory diseases. I know that because my grandma suffered one. And though I was a teenager, I realized how hard it was for her and for whole our family. I wish I could find this information before.

Reply
Affordable Moving Companies Chicago link
6/17/2018 12:48:34 am

Move manager will make it easy for your loved one's to move. They can manage everything without indulging your loved one's into this work.

Reply
Moving Companies Near me link
6/17/2018 05:48:54 am

Those people who are in such situation must take help from your loved one's. They will help you to manage a move.

Reply
Chicago Packers and Movers link
6/17/2018 10:15:24 am

With all the items they have emotions that's why while moving those items you have to be very careful.

Reply
Cross Country Movers Chicago link
10/21/2020 06:20:40 am

If you want to keep your thing in a good condition while moving, then you can hire movers for this work. They efficiently carry all the things with proper management and take proper precautions for keeping them in original condition.

Reply
Low Cost Cross Country Movers link
12/16/2020 02:46:25 am

Every homeowner wants safe and secure moving service, always get in touch with professional movers because they do their job properly without wasting time.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Marysue Moses

    Dementia Care Coordinator

    Archives

    December 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

York Gardens is owned and managed by Ebenezer, Minnesota’s largest senior living operator. Ebenezer is the senior housing division of Fairview Health Services and has 100 years of experience serving older adults. 
Discrimination is Against the Law. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws. We do not discriminate against, exclude or treat people differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex or sexual orientation..
Español  Soomaali   Tiếng Việt    العربية

Русский   Oroomiffa   Hmoob   繁體中文   አማርኛ   ខ្មែរ   ພາສາລາວ   한국어   Français   فارسی   ကညီ


Ebenezer Senior Living

Owned and managed by Ebenezer, part of Fairview Health Services

York Gardens is owned by Ebenezer, the senior housing division of Fairview Health Services. Ebenezer is a faith based, not for profit company with more than 100 years of experience serving older adults. Call for more information:
952-898-6700
Ebenezer Senior Living
© 2019 Fairview Health Services
Notice of Privacy Practices
Picture
  • Home
  • Senior Living Options
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care >
      • Ebenezer Memory Care
    • Enhanced Care Suites
  • Lifestyle
    • News and Events
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • CONTACT US
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Pre Winter Special