Preparing the Move
Moving of any kind is stressful, but this situation can bring it to a whole different level, with emotions running high. For the sake of the family and the person moving into the assisted living facility, you should begin this process as soon as possible. Your loved one is probably going to have to pare down his belongings quite a bit and this can be a difficult process. First off, sorting goods into different categories can be helpful to create a clearer picture of what he owns. If you think you will be doing a lot of selling, it may be a good idea to hire an appraiser—this can help you decide what is worth keeping and what is not, as well as reasonable asking prices; this may help head off family arguments. It can be hard for your loved one to watch his home be razed and all of his things taken away, but he may find greater comfort if some items were going to family, so consider that in the process. If you do, make sure you have a list of who is getting what.
Encouraging Independence and Adaptation
If you are like most people in this situation, you probably have a huge amount of guilt for doing this; you may be tempted to alleviate it by coming around often after your loved one makes the move into assisted living. While it is important to visit regularly if feasible, frequent visits during this transition period may do more harm than good in the long-run. It can hinder your loved one’s independence, willingness to reach out to other residents and attempts to integrate into this new community more deeply.
Kelli Cooper is a freelance writer who blogs about various topics related to elder care; if you are investigating care centers in the Richmond, VA area, she highly recommends visiting Lakewood Manor for more information.