Seniors who have dementia may need to move to a safer or more convenient home. However, moving can be particularly traumatic for seniors with dementia, since they function better in familiar environments. Here are a few ways to ease the transition and help a senior loved one with dementia move to a new home.
Let Your Loved One Visit the New Home Before Moving There
Allowing your loved one to gain knowledge about the new home before having to live there may ease some anxiety. Take the time to let your loved one walk around the new place, eat a meal there, or have a nap there before the big moving day. Spending some time in the home may help him or her feel like the new environment is more familiar.
You may have already made plans to engage the services of a professional caregiver once the move is complete. If you have, make sure your loved one meets the caregiver ahead of time. If you haven’t, you might want to consider hiring a caregiver to help your loved one through the transition period. Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Tucson Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Involve Your Loved One in the Moving Plans
Seniors with dementia often get frustrated when they’re treated like children and are suddenly subjected to changes. Letting your loved one be involved in the move as much as possible may help him or her feel more independent and in control. Your loved one might not be able to handle logistics and important decisions, but he or she may be able to do things like box up belongings or wrap protective blankets and padding around objects. Involving your loved one is also helpful because it allows time to comprehend the idea of moving before it occurs.
Make the New Home Look Like the Old One
Make sure you take photos of how the old house was arranged before moving anything. Before you take your loved one to the new home, have someone unpack the main pieces of furniture, clothes, lamps, and photos, and try to simulate an arrangement as close to the old one as possible. In addition to making the new environment look more like home, it may also help your loved one more easily find belongings.
Move in the Morning and Follow a Normal Routine
Seniors with dementia are more likely to have a bad reaction to a move if they’re already tired after a long day. It’s best to move in the morning when your loved one is well rested and fed. As soon as you get to the new location, start getting back into your loved one’s usual routine. Help your loved one eat and go to bed at the same time, and provide access to papers, books, or television shows he or she interacts with each day. Staying on schedule may help your loved one settle in easier.
Maintaining regular schedules provides a sense of normalcy and comfort for many seniors with dementia, and a professional caregiver can help your loved one maintain that vital daily routine that provides necessary predictability. Families looking for top-rated Tucson elder care providers can reach out to Home Care Assistance. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
Limit the Number of Visitors for the First Few Days
Being surrounded by a lot of people in an unfamiliar environment is even more likely to cause confusion and trauma for a senior with dementia. Try to make sure movers and cleaners are finished before your loved one arrives. For the first week or two, suggest that friends and family members schedule visits to avoid overwhelming your loved one.
Moving can be especially stressful and confusing for seniors with dementia, and that can make it nerve-racking for their families as well. Even when families have the best intentions, caring for a senior loved one with dementia can be challenging. Fortunately, Home Care Assistance is here to help. We are a leading provider of dementia care. Tucson, AZ, families can take advantage of our flexible and customizable care plans, and our caregivers always stay up to date on the latest developments in senior care. If you need professional care for your senior loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (520) 276-6555.