Getting Acclimated To The  Assisted Living Facility

 

Once you or your loved one has moved into the Assisted Living Home Facility, they then need to get acclimated to their new home.  Getting adjusted to assisted living doesn’t happen overnight. From the first day through the first week, your loved one will be very busy at their new community.  These are some of the steps that can be taken to help them integrate well into their new home.

  1. Get Acquainted With Neighbors

Your loved one will likely be living in an apartment with several neighbors in their hallway, on their floor or even right next door. Each person they meet has the potential to become a new friend. Encourage your loved one to introduce themselves to as many people as possible. Other members have gone through the same transition period, and they can serve as a fantastic resource and support network.

  1. Familiarize Yourself with the Community Caregivers And Staff

During the first week, your loved one will get acquainted with several staff members at the community. This includes meetings with caregivers to assess their needs and create a care plan. They will also meet with nurses, dining staff, social directors, fitness staff and others on the community leadership team. The job of the community staff is to make your loved one feel comfortable, so don’t hesitate to bring up questions you have for them at any time. 

  1. Spend Time With Loved Ones

Be sure to visit your loved one regularly, or as often as possible. This is especially important during their first weeks at the community, since it will help them get adjusted to their new surroundings without feeling abandoned. Try to come up with a consistent schedule for visiting if you can. Sharing a meal is a great way to spend time whenever you visit. Most communities offer a range of dining options from dine-in to take-out, so check and see what’s available.

  1. Stay in Touch

Help your loved one feel connected to you and the rest of your family with frequent calls and visits. One thing that many fear about moving into an assisted living situation is losing contact with their loved ones. This can bring feelings of depression and isolation. Continue to nurture your relationship with them by maintaining a connection.

  1. Get Involved In Community Events

One of the major benefits of assisted living communities is the social programming they offer. Make sure your loved one gets a copy of your community’s social calendar and speaks with residents about their favorite activities. Attending social events early on provides a great opportunity to learn about what’s available and get to know other residents. Over time, they will discover which activities are their favorites as those they enjoyed when they lived at home and also have new ones to look forward to on a regular basis.

At Smithfield Assisted Living we offer several amenities that you can also check out here, and these include several activity programs.  An example of our activities programming schedules can be found here: schedules here that we believe caters to the needs of everyone.  There is always something for everyone that they can do.

  1. Socializing with fellow residents or Staff In The Dining Room

More often than not, the dining room is the center of socialization on an assisted living campus. Encourage your loved one to schedule meals with their new neighbors and connect with other residents during meals. Members of community staff are often glad to share a meal as well, and they have the potential to become great friends.

  1. Get Involved In a Club or Group

Most assisted living communities have special groups focused on specific hobbies, interests or values. Examples might be a playing cards group, gardening club, book club, bible study or resident council. Your loved one should speak with the community social director as well as other members to discover what’s out there and see what they might be interested in joining.

  1. Establish Methods of Transportation

The ability to get around provides a sense of independence and will allow your loved one to maintain an active lifestyle. Make sure they understand the modes of transportation that are available and how to use them to get around. Some assisted living facilities provide transportation as an added convenience for their residents as well.  For some they will arrange transportation for you.  For others there might be rideshares coming to the facility every so often.  Find out which will work for you.

  1. Ensure access to activities To Outside Activities If Possible Or Applicable

Depending on their interests, they may want to locate a new church to volunteer at or a nearby book club. Helping them find similar alternatives in their new neighborhood can encourage an active lifestyle and show that you care.

Also if your loved one had an active life within their home community, joining an assisted living community doesn’t mean your loved one’s outside life gets put on pause. They’ll still have the freedom to go about their business where they like, when they like. Many communities offer transportation services for trips to the doctor, grocery store and other common needs. For trips that aren’t covered by the community directly, your loved one can find transportation through a home care or ride sharing service.

For some highlights about Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living please watch this short video here.

Should you have any questions about Smithfield Gardens, know that we want to support you on this journey of your life. Feel free to send us a message to: Info@smithfieldgardens.org or call us at: 203-888-1835 and we will gladly respond to your inquiries.

Thank you for your interest in Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living and our services.  We hope you or your loved one gets to live here at the Smithfield Gardens.  You will have made a great decision! Look forward to meeting you or hearing back from you.