March is Optimism Month and for an elderly person making the transition to assisted living, it can be a difficult one. There might be a number of reasons why this individual has difficulty staying positive about the upcoming move.
There are several things family and friends can do to support this individual, but there are also things the senior can take charge of that will hopefully making more positive transition.
1. Focus on companionship.
Many seniors who choose assisted living are alone. They may live in an apartment or house alone, are no longer able to drive, and have extreme difficulty getting around.
That often means they don’t spend a lot of time with their friends or even their family. When they are about to move into an assisted living facility, they will be surrounded by other seniors their age, possibly even friends they might have lost touch with years ago.
This level of companionship and camaraderie can be a valuable boost to a person’s mental and emotional outlook in planning for this upcoming move.
2. Go through personal mementos.
This is often a difficult thing for some people to face, especially when they’re downsizing from a home they’ve lived in for many years to make room for assisted living, but in the right light it can be a positive experience.
By going through old photo albums, looking at various knickknacks, cards, picture frames, and so forth, they can reminisce about the ‘good old days.’
If they have family or friends, possibly even neighbors who are more than willing to sit down and listen to those memories, it can lift their spirits.
3. Consider safety.
Many seniors who choose assisted living do so because they worry about their safety or no longer wish to be responsible for the general cleanliness, maintenance, and upkeep of their home.
When their focus is on their safety, instead of dreading this new transition to assisted living, they will often look forward to it, feeling relief just around the corner that they will no longer have to worry each day whether or not they might fall and be injured or unable to call for help.
When looking at all the benefits assisted living can offer, it’s easy to understand why millions of seniors are choosing this for their future rather than struggling living alone and depending on a few friends or family for help every once in a while.
It may seem like a loss, but many aging seniors ultimately realize it’s a gain; their quality of life improves as well as the option to participate in a growing number of activities.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Services in Roswell GA please contact the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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