5 Tips to Regroup as Your Mom’s Caregiver When She Moves to Assisted Living
As a mother’s caregiver, it can be an emotionally draining and exhausting experience when realizing that your mom needs to move out of her home and into an assisted living facility. This transition can take its toll on you, but there are ways to make it easier. Drawing from personal experience, here are 5 tips for regrouping as a caregiver when your mom moves to assisted living:
- Take time for yourself
- Reach out
- Celebrate little moments
- Get organized
- Ask questions
What Is Assisted Living? Who Resides in Assisted Living?
Before diving into our conversation about regrouping after your mother moves to assisted living and what you might want to consider doing to regroup in your own life, we provide a quick overview of assisted living and who resides in these types of communities. While you undoubtedly have seen or heard much of this information during the process of your mom transitioning into this type of community, it may be convenient for you to have a brief overview in this article as you consider tips to regroup as your mom’s caregiver when she moves to assisted living.
Assisted living is a type of senior care that provides 24-hour assistance to elderly individuals who need help with everyday activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, personal hygiene, and mobility. Unlike nursing homes or long-term care facilities, assisted living provides a more home-like environment where seniors can socialize and remain relatively independent.
Residents of assisted living communities typically have their private apartments or rooms equipped with emergency alert systems in case of an accident or medical emergency. Many facilities offer common areas such as libraries, gardens, and patios. In addition to providing basic care services like medication management and transportation to doctor’s appointments, assisted living facilities often offer amenities, such as housekeeping services; onsite laundry; meals prepared by chefs; wellness programs; and recreational activities, like art classes and book clubs.
Assisted living is particularly suitable for seniors who no longer wish—or are no longer able—to live independently in their own homes but do not require the intensive medical care available in a nursing facility. Residents typically benefit from living in a community setting that promotes socialization among its members without sacrificing the privacy of individual apartments.
Because each person’s needs vary greatly in senior care, most assisted living facilities tailor services according to the level of independence exhibited by each resident. Staff members may provide discreet assistance with daily tasks such as getting dressed or preparing meals while encouraging residents to maintain their independence as much as possible. Supportive services may also include access to health professionals like nurses or physical therapists when needed.
Some assisted living residences also offer specialized memory support programs designed specifically for those suffering from memory impairments due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. These specialized programs provide more personalized attention and activities geared toward cognitive stimulation while maintaining a secure and safe environment for seniors with memory issues. Additionally, many assisted living residences feature specialized staff trained in dementia care who can provide guidance and support throughout the day for these residents.
As one can see, assisted living is an ideal option for many seniors seeking assistance with daily tasks without sacrificing independence and privacy at home. With its wide range of supportive amenities offered in a secure yet welcoming atmosphere, this type of senior housing can be an invaluable resource for aging adults and their families.
Take Time for Yourself
As much as you want to be there for your mom every step of the way, it is important that you also take time for yourself. After all, self-care is key to taking care of our loved ones properly and optimally. Make sure you take regular “me” time daily to relax, unwind, and recharge your batteries. This could be anything from reading a book or taking a long walk outside – whatever makes your soul happy.
Reach Out
It is normal and healthy if you feel overwhelmed during this transition period. You do not need to keep your feelings and emotions bottled up inside.
Reach out to your family members and friends who will understand what you are going through and provide a listening ear or support in whatever capacity they can. If none of these people are available, seek professional counseling or join a support group – either online or in-person – where you can connect with others who relate more personally to your current journey and find advice from more experienced caregivers who have gone through similar transitions before.
Celebrate Little Moments
Even though moving into assisted living can often evoke sadness about leaving the comfort and familiarity behind, try not to get too bogged down by such feelings; instead, focus on celebrating little moments like when mama first meets her neighbors or makes new friends at bingo night. Look for any little opportunities where joy can be found throughout this process– trust us, these small moments will help carry you through this transition period with grace.
Get Organized
Making sure all paperwork is squared away it’s one surefire way to ease the transition process into assisted living – this means making sure all medical information is up-to-date as well as having other necessary documents such as wills, powers of attorney papers ready ahead of time, so everything is taken care of swiftly and efficiently as possible when the time comes for your mom’s move-in date.
Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Communicating openly with the staff at the assisted living facility will help create a smooth transition process between both parties involved while also providing peace of mind knowing that your mom’s care needs are being addressed properly and effectively at her new home away from home. It never hurts to research topics such as policies or additional fees associated with certain services if something seems wrong – knowledge is power in this area.
Moving your mom into an assisted living facility doesn’t need to be an overly stressful experience. If we equip ourselves with patience, organization skills, and, most importantly, a supportive network, we know we’ve done our best job in helping our mothers reach their highest potential in life, even under difficult circumstances. Remember that although it may feel like an ending in many ways, this process begins an exciting new chapter leading towards better health outcomes and a larger sense of fulfillment for everyone involved.