Relocating from a private home to a retirement community can be intimidating. People are often leaving behind a home they have known and loved for decades. With that home, they also lose their neighbors, neighborhood and possibly even their pets. Friends and family members have a responsibility to ensure that their loved ones are supported and assisted during this transition. There are things you can do to help make everything easier for them.
Bring in Personal Items
Retirement communities with senior apartments in Omaha allow their residents to bring in much of their own property. This can include draperies, furniture and accessories. Having simple things, like a favorite coffee mug or their old recliner can help to make the apartment to feel more like home.
Keep to a Schedule
If you normally visit for lunch on Tuesday or play cards with your loved one on Sundays, continue with those routines. This will help to reassure them that the only thing that has changed in their life is their location.
Encourage Community Involvement
Encourage your loved one to join clubs, meet other residents and take part in any activities they are physically capable of joining. This will help to prevent depression and will be good for them physically as well.
Take Them Away
You do not want your family member to feel like there are in prison. Senior Apartments in Omaha are a comfortable and safe option, but everyone still likes to get away now and then. Take them out to lunch or bring them to your home to enjoy the Holidays. By getting away a little, they will enjoy and appreciate their home more. They will also be able to know they are still a valued part of the world.
Let Them Be in Charge
It is very easy for family members to want to completely take over the care and make decisions for their elderly relation. But it is important to remember, they are not children and it is very important to give them the opportunity to make their own decisions about what they do with their life.
Most members of senior communities are thrilled with their lifestyle after they are settled. They are able to enjoy themselves and socialize, yet know they are safe and their medical needs are met. No matter how happy people are after they have become settled, it is normal for everyone to experience a period of adjustment.
