Helping Elderly Adjust to Nursing Home
Moving an ageing parent or loved one into a nursing home is never going to be an easy decision for anyone. However, for the sake of a parent’s general wellbeing, it is a decision which often has to be made. For some elderly people, deteriorating health or even dementia can prompt their family members to look for a nursing home, as the care they so desperately need cannot be given at home.
Once the decision has been made, it is time to start thinking about moving your parent or loved one into their selected home. This can be a particularly difficult period, which will need to be handled with plenty of patience and thoughtfulness.
There are a number of things that you can do to help you parent or loved one adjust to their new life in a nursing home.
The First Weeks
The first few weeks are likely to be the most difficult for an elderly person moving into a home. During this time, it is very important that family and friends try to make as many visits as they can. Some people even take time off work during this period, so that they have the time to visit on a daily basis. If a nursing home has restrictions regarding visiting times, it may be a good idea to choose another home.
Regular Visiting
Regular visiting is important for your elderly relative and for you to have confidence in the home. The more you visit, the better you will get to know the carers working in the home. This can help to give you better insights into how your parents or loved ones are coping in their new environment, as well as offering an opportunity to get involved in caring decisions. By getting actively involved, you can help to shape the care of your parents or loved ones.
If a resident in a nursing home has a say in his or her care plans, it can help tremendously during their settling in period rather than just having to follow strict regimes laid down by the care home management. Most good nursing homes welcome new ideas which will be of benefit both to their carers and their residents. Some of the things you can ask for could include more outdoor exercise sessions and regular brain games.
Social Contact
Most nursing homes actively support social contact outside of the caring residence and even organise daytrips to help residents get out of the home and take part in community functions and events. Taking your parents out to visit friends and family yourself is also highly recommended as a way of helping them to adjust to their new way of life while keeping in touch with the outside world.
Many nursing homes welcome volunteer carers. If you find that you have the time, you can get involved in all kinds of activities, such as art classes or even cooking. You can see your relative more often and it also helps other residents who may not have relatives who are able to visit them on a regular basis.
Listen
It is also a good idea to listen carefully to the opinions of your parent or loved one regarding their care. If they are not happy, you can bring up the subject with the care home management. Listening to their thoughts can often lead to small misunderstandings or issues being solved in a positive and amicable way.
Having to make the decision to move a parent or loved one into a nursing home is something that is never easy. However, with careful research, regular visiting and patience, their transition from home to nursing home can be made as easy and stress free as possible. Once they are settled, you can rest assured that they will get the care and attention that they deserve.
Juliet Martin is writing in freelance basis for a residential home. With over 20 years’ experience, the management of Ashtonleigh Residential Home prides itself on offering a highly professional care service for the elderly.
