Making the decision to move an older parent or loved one to memory care full time can be difficult. It’s a major transition – not just for your parent or loved one but for the whole family. Managing the logistics alongside and emotions involved can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created this checklist for moving your older parents to memory care.
From preparing for the move to working with your dedicated memory care team at The Stayton on moving day and beyond, this checklist will help you manage the transition with confidence.
Things To Do When Moving a Parent or Loved One to Memory Care
Let’s break down the bigger tasks of your parent’s move to memory care into smaller buckets to make each step more manageable.
Prepare Your Loved One With a Routine
For people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, routine is the key to maintaining a peaceful and comforting environment.
- Make note of their current routine. Write down what they are doing on a daily basis now.
- Work with their new memory care community to prepare a routine for their new home. Wherever possible, maintain familiarity with their current routine by duplicating activities or elements in their new routine.
- Discuss concerns. If your parent or loved one is experiencing emotional turmoil about this move, work with them to address those concerns.
Make Their New Space Feel Like Home
Part of making the transition to memory care less stressful is to build a sensory bridge for your parent or loved one. Here are some ways to make their new space feel like home before they arrive.
- Move some belongings to their new space before move-in day. Getting familiar and sentimental items placed in their new space before they move can help minimize stress and discomfort.
- Add photos they’ll recognize. Beyond belongings, family photos and other visual reminders of their loved ones can help ease the transition.
- Walk them through the layout of their new space. If they are used to walking certain pathways to the bathroom, kitchen or bedroom, a new layout in their memory care living space may be disorienting at first. Take the time to familiarize yourself and your loved one with their new paths.
Collaborate With Your Loved One’s Team
With moving day over, there are still a few things that can make ongoing care easier.
- Determine a care plan. At The Stayton, we work with your loved one and you to create the best care plan to support wellness while providing the day-to-day assistance and care they need.
- Check in regularly. If you ever have questions about the specifics of your loved one’s care, daily routine or what team members can do for your loved one, don’t hesitate to ask.
- Spend caregiver-guilt-free time with your parent or loved one. Knowing that they are in good hands can allow you to get back to enjoying your time with them without worrying about daily care.
What Is Memory Care Like at The Stayton?
At The Stayton, we have an impressive array of amenities available for our memory care residents, as well as highly-trained and dedicated team members. Your parent or loved one will work with team members to incorporate activities and create a personalized care plan to meet their needs. Contact us to learn more or schedule a tour today.
