How to Facilitate a Move to a Dementia Care Facility
March 24th, 2017 by admin
Caring for someone with dementia is never an easy task. Although many family members would prefer to provide care for their loved one at home, this may become nearly impossible at a certain point. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the challenges of dementia diseases will only become more pronounced as they progress. For reasons of safety, finances, or emotional and physical health of all involved, you may decide that a memory care facility will be better suited to provide the care your loved one needs.
There are numerous types of dementia, each presenting itself in a different way in each patient. Memory care centers are uniquely equipped to provide individualized care in a safe environment. The staff at these dementia care units will work with you to come up with a dementia care plan for your loved one and ensure that they get the attention they deserve.
If you've been caring for someone with dementia and have decided upon a dementia or Alzheimers memory care facility of your choice, you'll need to make arrangements for your loved one's move. But because dementia conditions can be difficult to deal with in stressful situations, you'll need to go about this transition a different way. To ease the stress for both you and your loved one, here are a few tips to follow to ensure a smoother transition:
Don't inform them ahead of time
It may go against all of your instincts, but by announcing the move in advance, you'll likely be adding to an already stressful situation. If you do want to let your loved one know ahead of time, you should wait until it's very close to their moving date (in some cases, you may want to inform them the very moment they're moving). Because dementia patients often react in extreme ways to stress, you want the move itself to be as calm as possible.
Don't be afraid to fib
Again, this tip might make you feel a bit uncomfortable. But your loved one may have an easier time if they think they're at their new home for just a short while. Innocuous fibs about where they are or why they're there (i.e., you'll be out of town for the week and she needs to stay at this nice hotel) may actually be better for your loved one's well-being. This information can be repeated until your loved one has adjusted. Be sure to communicate this with staff members or other family members for consistency.
Bring familiar items along
When you're caring for someone with dementia at home, their environment will likely be well-known to them. In new surroundings, your loved one may be comforted by familiar elements. If you're able to decorate their new home with beloved furniture, knick-knacks, photos, or items they know well and enjoy, these can go a long way in cutting down on anxiety. Decide on which items might provide the most comfort right away. You can always bring other objects later on.
Don't visit at first
Even when you know it's the right thing to do, letting go will always be difficult. You may want to visit your loved one during those first few days, but it will most likely be better if you don't. If you visit, your loved one may have a much harder time adjusting and may ask you to take them back home. Your loved one needs to make connections with the staff and other residents without your presence. Of course, you can keep in contact with staff members to check on your loved one's progress, but you'll probably want to hold off on visits until your loved one has had some time to adjust.
If you've been caring for someone with dementia and feel it's time to explore other care options, White Birch Communities may be able to provide the answer you've been looking for. For more information, contact us today.
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