Relocating into a care home can be a sensitive period for both the residents and their loved ones. Having said that,this change can be turned into a beneficial experience with the following basic suggestions: See how we can help -
PERSONALISE THEIR BEDROOM AND MAKE IT HOMELY.
Place familiar objects around your loved one’s room,such as photographs,ornaments or a favourite chair. This will make their room feel more like home and help them settle in much quicker.
PACK THE BEST OUTFITS AND TOILETRIES.
Try and pack your loved one plenty of clothes and toiletries for at least two weeks. Don’t forget to put a name tag on each item of clothing so that they don’t get mixed up with the washing of other individuals’ in the laundry room. Try to pack toiletries that your loved one normally uses at home as the familiar smells will help your relative in the settling in procedure.
PROVIDE THE STAFF LOTS OF INFORMATION.
The personnel at the care property want to help make your relative’s relocation into the care home as positive as feasible. So,prior to your loved one moves in,give the care home team some relevant information about your loved one’s life so they can use this to establish a relationship with their new resident as quickly as possible. This will also help the resident feel more at home if they are able to have conversations with the staff about very special events in their life.This information could be in the form of highlights about your loved one,or a short story about them as well as pictures of them with family members. Things to include could be: Where did they grow up? When and where did they get married? How many children and grandchildren do they have? What was their occupation?
SPEND TIME AT THE HOME PRIOR TO THEY MOVE IN.
Care home personnel regularly say that residents settle in faster and loved ones feel more reassured if they spend some time at the care home before moving in. This can prompt your relative to get to know staff members and other residents and get to know the regular schedules before they move in. This prevents the change from being too much of a shock to the system.
BE THERE FOR THEM AS SOON AS THEY MAKE THE MOVE.
On the day of the move give yourself sufficient time to do what ever comes up and be prepared to hang around for the whole day. Make an effort to complete all forms and important activities in advance so that your time can be spent making your loved one feel as comfy as feasible and making their room feel like home.You’re most likely to feel a mix of emotions on this day – relief that your relative is going to be receiving the care they need,sadness that they are leaving their home,worry about whether they will settle in okay. All of these feelings are perfectly normal and easy to understand,but try and be as positive as possible to assure your family member and help them to feel positive too.
We really hope this quick guide has been informative and given you some practical guidance on how to move your relative into a care home and make it a positive experience for everybody involved.
If you need any more help you can reach us here -