As a society, we are aging and living longer than every before. For many of us, a nursing home becomes necessary at a certain point in time.
Relocating to a nursing home can be an emotional time for both the new resident and the family. Many families feel that they have let down their elderly family member by having to place them into a nursing home. It is also common for the resident to feel nervous or even angry about the new environment. While many aspects of moving into a nursing home are the same as any other move, there are some unique challenges that need to be considered.
If at all possible, the resident should have a chance to visit the facility prior to relocating. Many nursing homes have a buddy program where the resident is paired with someone who has been there for awhile and can show them how things work. There are also some pre-admission details that can be worked out ahead of time. You should be prepared with medical records, current prescriptions and all of the insurance information. The nursing home might have additional items they need before they can admit the new resident.
You will need to find out what personal items are allowed to accompany the resident. Some nursing homes are quite spacious and allow for a number of items, while others only allow a few personal things. You will need to make a plan for the rest of the items in the resident’s home. Family members might wish to move the items into their homes, place them in storage, or sell them at an auction. As with any move, you will need to make sure the house is clean prior to turning over the keys, and that all of the utilities have been shut off. Set up a change of address so that mail is forwarded either to the resident or the person who is handling his affairs. If the resident is able, they should be included in any decisions which have to do with their personal property.
Be sure that you are prepared emotionally. It is not uncommon for residents to become very upset when they first get to a nursing home. This usually passes after they adjust to the new environment. You should provide the staff with as much information as possible, including personal information about your family member so that the staff can relate to them better. Make sure that the resident has a way to contact you when needed. This can be a hard time for family members too, and many nursing homes have counselors available for family members to talk to.
Nursing homes can provide senior citizens with a loving environment where they can have their health needs met. You should try to focus on the positives that relocating into a nursing home will bring, and chances are that the resident will begin to feel at home soon.
Lou Ross is with MovingCompaniesforYou.com -
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