5 ways to Help Your Parent Transition to a Senior Living Village
Moving is one of the three most stressful events in one’s life and it doesn’t get easier with age; if anything, it gets harder and more stressful. Not only will your parents be going through the change of moving home, but their routines will also change. They may not continue to have as easy access to friends as they did in the past.
Marylou, Clear Path founder, has these five things to consider when helping your parents transition to their new home. “Experience since starting this business has shown that empathy and compassion from everyone in their lives is the first step to helping a senior through the journey and challenges of this life-changing event,” says Marylou.
ONE: Listen! Listen! Listen!
Your parents will be sad about leaving their current living situation; it may have been their (and your) home for decades. Remember that change for anyone is difficult, and it is especially so for seniors. Focus on the positive and allow them to see a new perspective without scolding them for being sad or frustrated. Provide a compassionate ear and listen to their feelings and concerns without judgment.
“I love hearing someone elderly talk about their life. They are much more interesting to talk to than most people my age.” Unknown
TWO: Don’t take away their control
As much as you would like to take charge and ‘get the job done’, you need to include them because they still want to live their lives on their terms. Talk to them about their decisions as equals, and show them that their feelings matter. Working with them to find the right living situation that works for everyone is important for them to remain in control of their future.
THREE: Talk to Clear Path
Moving for anyone can be a nightmare. With so many things to think about, it is easy to be overwhelmed. You can help them pack, but many of us don’t have the resources or available capacity to do so. With our working lives and children to manage it is a good idea to persuade your parents to work with a moving manager.
“We work with the seniors moving and their families to navigate the sorting and downsizing process. When it comes to items that the seniors would like their children to have, they can be part of that process or simply spend time with their parents reminiscing over already sorted items to decide what to do with them,” says Marylou.
FOUR: Address concerns
One concern we frequently see is that they worry that their furniture and belongings will not fit into their new home. This is where Clear Path can come in to help you and your parents go through sorting and decluttering. Clear Path can provide a layout of the new home to help decide what items will fit and what won’t.
It is important to listen to their concerns and show them they can still live the life they love with their beloved items, including their favourite plants, in their new home.
FIVE: Maintaining routines
The older we get, the less we like changes in our routines. You can help your parents maintain as much of their previous routines as possible by showing them they can continue as normal. Buy them their favourite teatime treat and join them for tea.
Ensure that when you brief Clear Path, you ask that familiar or prized items be placed in positions where they can be easily seen or accessed. The goal should be to make their new home feel as familiar and like home as possible.
Finally, Marylou shares a previous post from the Clear Path blog that gives pause for thought. Click here to read “What is Elderspeak and are we using it?”.