{"id":18869,"date":"2023-09-06T15:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T19:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/?p=18869"},"modified":"2025-06-18T08:57:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T12:57:24","slug":"how-to-move-a-parent-with-dementia-to-assisted-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/blog\/how-to-move-a-parent-with-dementia-to-assisted-living\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Move a Parent With Dementia to Assisted Living"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a difficult choice to move a parent into a residential assisted living facility<\/a><\/strong> or memory care center<\/a><\/strong>. The transition period invokes many emotions, and it can be a challenge to manage the physical move from the parent\u2019s home into a senior living home. This guide reviews the steps you can take to make the move easier for your loved one and the rest of your family. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Young<\/p>\n

Begin Preparing Your Loved One and Family Members for the Transition Into an Assisted Living Facility <\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s better to have a conversation with your family about how to treat your parent soon after receiving a diagnosis for dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Having a parent with dementia can be a strain on everyone\u2019s mental health and physical well-being. While some people may dread the prospect of moving a loved one into a nursing home, a memory care center can provide so much more care than a family caregiver might be able to without needing to leave work. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you start the conversation with your parent in the early stage of Alzheimer\u2019s or another form of mental decline, the parent has more control over the decision-making and feels included in the process. This can help ease any guilt you might feel about the idea because you know you\u2019re choosing a memory care unit that your parent likes. If an elderly person is in the mid to late stages of mental decline, it\u2019s more difficult to involve them and no longer a good idea because it may upset them or worsen their condition. <\/span><\/p>\n

If the diagnosis comes late, it may be best not to tell your parent the move is happening until all the preparations have been made. Your family members can assist you when selecting the new memory care community and then help you pack your parent\u2019s things and perform the move.  <\/span><\/p>\n

A Memory Care Community Isn\u2019t a Typical Assisted Living Apartment <\/b><\/h2>\n

For patients with Alzheimer\u2019s or dementia, assisted living centers aren\u2019t all created equal. A memory care facility is a center that specializes in the treatment of elderly people who suffer from mental decline. The decision to move your parent into a nursing facility is stressful enough, and you don\u2019t want to have to do it again if the home you chose doesn\u2019t work out. Make sure when you\u2019re considering assisted living facilities that you\u2019re looking for an assisted living center that offers memory care. <\/span><\/p>\n

A memory care home employs staff who can help with the transition because they understand how to explain the move to your parent and what things will make it easier for you to complete the move with minimal incident. You can lean on these staff members as you struggle with the emotional impact the move is having on you and your family, and most memory care facilities have transition programs and counseling services that take your own health, emotions and needs into account during this time.  <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important when you\u2019re selecting a community to help make the new home as familiar as possible to your parent. Taking a loved one for several visits to the new home prior to the move helps them get adjusted to the new home environment, and the care team can introduce them to other residents. Making new friends and developing good memories over a few visits with a family member present can reduce anxiety and resistance to the process. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Memory<\/p>\n

Plan the Move Date Carefully <\/b><\/h2>\n

Choosing the right date to make the transition depends on how far along your parent has progressed in their mental decline. It\u2019s important to know what date to make the move and to arrange the move during an ideal time of day.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Moving during early mornings or later in the afternoon can create complications if your loved one is tired. Exhaustion can result in irritability and cause headaches while you\u2019re attempting to move your loved one\u2019s possessions. The best time of day is just before or after noon so your parent has enough energy to make the transition and is less likely to be moody or angry. They can get settled in and make new dining hall friends while you\u2019re handling the incidentals. <\/span><\/p>\n

The best date to move depends on your parent\u2019s condition. It\u2019s best to wait until it\u2019s evident they\u2019re no longer able to care for themselves safely and need regular supervision and care. Moving them too soon can cause lingering resentment and personal guilt if you wonder later if you should\u2019ve waited longer.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Making the Actual Move <\/b><\/h2>\n

The first few weeks in a new home can be stressful for anyone, and it\u2019s even harder for someone with memory loss. Waking up in an unfamiliar setting can be unsettling and cause panic. Elderly patients transition better when they’re surrounded by familiar objects and furniture. Setting up family photos, bringing your loved one\u2019s favorite music and displaying other personal effects that hold sentimental value can help make the transition into a new community successful. <\/span><\/p>\n

Keep these things in mind during the packing process, and if you\u2019re including your parent in the packing, find out what objects they\u2019d like to have present. New residents in a skilled nursing and dementia care facility may have trouble adjusting at first, so expect setbacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many families help ease the transition by having the adult children take turns visiting the senior loved one in the new assisted living community until they\u2019re completely settled.  Those who are unsure exactly how to move a parent with dementia to assisted living communities have plenty of resources available once they begin looking at memory care units.<\/span><\/p>\n

Staff members can review expectations, explain the type of professional care your loved one will receive, guide you to counseling services and help you with the move through the facility\u2019s transition program. It\u2019s important to know that you\u2019re not alone during this stressful time and that you can lean on others to help complete the transition.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about Abbey Manor<\/span> and contact us here: 410-620-4126<\/a><\/strong>  to schedule a tour<\/a><\/strong> today. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":18870,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cateredliving.com\/abbey-manor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}