Strategies for Emotionally Supporting a Family Member Adjusting to Assisted Living

Senior father and adult son having a good time

Moving to Assisted Living can be a time filled with emotional ups and downs for the person moving and their family. Leaving behind the home they’ve known for years is a big change, but it’s also the beginning of an exciting new chapter in life. It’s important to understand the emotional journey your loved one may go through, acknowledging these feelings instead of downplaying them.

As a family member, you want to make sure your loved one has the support they need as they age, which is why Assisted Living is a smart move. Coming to terms with the reality that they need some help may not be easy, but doing so can help everyone move forward with a more positive outlook.

We’ll cover the ways family members can help make the transition easier with advice for navigating the emotional journey before and after moving to Assisted Living.

Preparing for the Changes Ahead

Here are some ways to prepare for a successful move and provide emotional support for your loved one along the way:

Organize a family meeting. Meet with family members to share concerns and discuss potential solutions and next steps in the moving process. Finding ways to work together can relieve underlying tension and prepare everyone involved for the changes ahead.
Be supportive throughout the downsizing process. Set realistic expectations for downsizing with your loved one. Trying to downsize an entire home in a few days can be overwhelming and emotionally distressing. Slow down and take extra time to look at family photo albums and share memories. This is a nice way to spend quality time together before they move.
Surround them with familiar things. Decorating their new residence so it feels like home can help ease the transition to an Assisted Living community. When selecting items to move into their new apartment, bring family photos, cozy pillows, treasured knickknacks and furniture pieces that remind them of home.
Talk about the positive aspects of moving. Encourage your loved one to embrace the positive benefits of moving to a community where they’ll have convenient access to restaurant-style dining, a fitness center, social events, and so much more. With a maintenance-free lifestyle, there’s less to worry about and more time to enjoy what matters most to them.

Supporting Them After the Move

The first few months after someone moves into an Assisted Living community is a critical time for forming new routines and meeting new friends. Family members can help by continuing to provide emotional support in this new stage of life. Here are some ways to do that:

Plan frequent visits. Seeing familiar faces can help your loved one feel at home. Regular visits from family and friends can lift their spirits, especially in the first few weeks and months.
Encourage them to try new activities. There are so many ways to get involved with fun and fulfilling activities in a senior living community, but it can take some time to branch out and try new things. If your loved one needs some encouragement, you could help them find a class or activity that matches their interests, or attend a social event on campus together.
Venture off campus. Plan special trips together to some favorite places, whether it’s a local coffee shop, place of worship, quilt shop or car show.
Help friends and family stay connected. Make it easy for others to reach your loved one by sharing their new address and phone number. Even if the distance is too far for a visit, exchanging letters and phone calls is a wonderful way to stay connected across the miles.

We Can Help Ease the Transition to Assisted Living

At Signature Pointe, we’re here to help you navigate the challenges of moving a loved one into Assisted Living. You can rest assured knowing that your loved one will be in a caring and supportive environment where they’ll be inspired to make the next chapter in life the most fulfilling yet. We invite you to learn more about our all-inclusive Assisted Living community in Dallas, Texas.