Transitioning Back to Your Role as a Family Member
As your loved one ages, they may start to need help with chores like yard work and transportation. Eventually, mobility issues may mean that they need help with housekeeping and cooking. And, if your loved one suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s, they may need even more care and constant supervision.
Anyone who has cared for an aging loved one knows that their role as a caregiver can sometimes take over their relationship as a family member. If your loved one needs extra care in a safe, comfortable community, The Landing at Cape Elizabeth can help you by taking care of them so that you can regain your relationship with them as a family member.
Transitioning from home to an assisted living community can be an emotional process, not just for the aging individual but also for the family. As you make this transition, here are a few recommendations to keep in mind to help ease the process.
Make Space for Feelings
Talk to your loved one about how they’re feeling, expecting some sadness or fear. Be ready to reassure them about the care they’ll receive.
Be ready to feel some conflicting emotions, too. As a caregiver, you may feel guilt or sadness that you’re relinquishing these duties. But there’s no reason you should feel guilty, especially when you’re entrusting the care of your loved one to an assisted living community with all of the resources they need – as well as compassionate care from nurses and staff who will treat them like a family member.
Make It Feel Like Home
If your loved one experiences memory loss, one important way you can ease the transition is to bring photos and mementos that make their new living space a home. We recommend doing this before they officially move in, as this can be an immediate comfort. These familiar tokens will also help you view their living space as their new home, allowing you to ease back into the role of a loving family member.
Make a Plan for Visits
Plan ahead for some visits so that your loved one can look forward to your presence in their new home. For those with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other memory loss issues, a routine is important for their emotional well-being. Regular visits can be a comfort to anyone suffering from memory loss. Regular visits will also help you since you’ll have specific times to see your loved one instead of always worrying about their care. Plus, you can always check in by phone in between in-person visits!
Make Sure You Find Support
While a lot of your focus will be on making sure your loved one feels comfortable, you should be considering your own emotions. You’re not alone in this experience, and you may benefit from finding a support group. If you need a recommendation for a group or someone to talk to, please reach out to us.
Whether you need assisted living for your loved one or more complex dementia care services, The Landing at Cape Elizabeth is here to help. We serve the Cape Elizabeth, ME area, and we would be happy to schedule a tour or an appointment so that you can learn more about what makes our assisted living community special.
