Transitioning Into Aged Care

Helping a loved one move from independent living in a home where he or she may have spent decades into an aged care facility is a transition that requires sensitivity, care, and a great deal of preparation. There are many reasons why a family might choose to move a loved one into an aged care facility. The elderly family member might require more medical care than family members are comfortable providing, the family might lack the time to give the elderly family member as much care as he or she needs, or the family member might be suffering from a condition that makes living alone virtually impossible. As Alzheimer’s disease advances, many families choose to place their loved one in an aged care facility

One way to ease the transition is to bring in home care services. By having a professional give your loved one a little extra help at home, not only will your loved one begin to get used to being cared for by other people, but your own work load will be reduced. Bringing in home aid services often delays your loved one’s eventual entry into an aged care facility.

When it is time to make the transition, seek the support of others. Make a list of all of your loved one’s needs and begin to search for a facility that can meet them. If you find that caring for your loved one makes searching for a facility difficult because of a lack of time, ask for help from a trusted friend or another family member who is not as involved in your loved one’s day-to-day care.

After you’ve chose an appropriate facility and your loved one’s move is imminent, be sure to focus on his or her emotions. Often, people get so caught up in the logistics of the move that the emotional aspect of the transition takes a back seat. Living in a new place among new people can be especially confusing for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. To help ease the transition, try spending time in the aged care facility before the move takes place. Try to fill your loved one’s room with as many familiar objects as possible. If you notice that you loved one is confused or depressed, talk to the aged care facility staff and ask them to pay a little more attention to your loved one during the transition. Keep in mind that counselling is sometimes a good option.

It is also important to care for your own emotions. Sometimes, families that put a loved one in an aged care facility experience feelings of guilt, especially if the elderly family member has difficulty with the transition. Seek the help of a support group or look for other families that have gone through a transition like this and can offer advice or support.

Remain in close communication with the aged care facility staff in the early months after your loved one’s move. If you are spending a lot of one-on-one time with your loved one after his or her move, you might have a better idea of his or her needs and can communicate these needs to the staff. As Alzheimer’s progresses, you might notice behavioural or psychological problems in your loved one. Communicate these changes to the facility staff so that the symptoms can be medically managed if necessary.

Moving a family member into an aged care facility can be a difficult transition for both the loved one and his or her family. To help with the transition, begin making plans well in advance of the need and be gentle with the emotions of everyone involved while the transition is going on.

Author: Erin Warbrook is a freelance writer who has assisted her grandmother’s move into care. Without the help of the Brightwater Group, she would have been lost!