The mere thought of moving a loved one into dementia care can feel upsetting and stressful. It might not feel easy to transfer a parent, grandparent, or partner from their home to a care home, but there are ways to minimize their trauma and disruption.
To take the stress out of the process and create a smoother transition for a loved one, find out how to ease the worry of moving into dementia care.
Involve Your Loved One in the Decision
Transfer trauma can occur when moving a person to a new home. If a loved one feels they have been forced to say goodbye to their home, they might experience emotional outbursts, confusion, sleeping difficulties, anxiety, and appetite changes until they adjust to their new surroundings.
Yet, you can minimize their emotional upheaval by involving your loved one in the process. It is essential to discuss the moving process with your loved one to emotionally prepare them for dementia care.
Visit a Care Home Together
In addition to talking about dementia care with your loved one, consider visiting a care home together to introduce them to their new home. For example, signature-care-homes.co.uk is more than happy to show a prospective resident and their loved ones around the care home, as it will familiarize them with the setting and staff. Also, it will provide an opportunity for you and a loved one living with dementia to ask any questions you might have, which could ease worries ahead of the move.
Start with Respite Care
If the care home you choose provides respite care, it might be an ideal way to introduce a loved one to their new home gradually. It will allow a loved one to familiarize themselves with the facility, staff, and residents before a permanent move. It is worthwhile discussing this option with your chosen care home, as they might be more than happy to support a gradual transition into the facility.
Learn About the Dementia Care Team
Transitioning a loved one into a care home can feel emotionally draining. Remove the worry from the process by talking to the dementia care team and learning about their background. It will increase trust in their ability to care for your loved one’s every need. As you’ll be less worried about your loved one’s wellbeing at the facility, you can focus 100% of your attention on creating a smooth, enjoyable transition.
Conclusion
It is never an easy decision to move a loved one into dementia care. Yet, it is likely the best option for their health, happiness, and wellbeing, as they will receive 24-hour care and support in a comfortable, supportive, and friendly setting.
The good news is there are ways to minimize their emotional upheaval when moving into a care home, from involving them in the decision to gradually building up to their new home with respite care. If in doubt, talk to the prospective care home to receive advice for making the transition much smoother for a loved one living with dementia.