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Moving
to a Nursing Facility
Copyright 1999 IlluminAge,
206-625-9128. Reprinted from the Resident and Family Guide to Long
Term Care. Provided exclusively for individual use by long term
care residents and their families. All other use, reproduction,
distribution or adaptation is prohibited.
- Before the Move
- On the Day of the Move
- After the Move
- Ten Ways to Make Living in a Long Term Care
Facility More Enjoyable
Here
are some ways you can help someone you love make a smooth transition to
living in a long term care facility.
Moving to a long term care facility is often
difficult for an older adult. But there are many things family members
and friends can do to reduce the physical and emotional stresses
involved. They can help plan the move, participate on the day of the
move, and provide love and support after the move.
Moving to a nursing home is an important
long term care option for many older or disabled adults. Sometimes, a
person moves to a nursing facility because the care they need just isn’t
available or practical at home. Or, they may have special rehabilitative
care needs after leaving the hospital, but before they return home.
Whatever the circumstances, there are a few
simple steps you and other family members and friends can take to help
the person you care for make a smooth, hassle-free transition to new
surroundings.
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Before the Move
Moving to a long term care facility usually
means making do with less space than the person is used to.
Long term care residents have the right to
keep and use items of personal property, to the extent space permits.
But space is almost always in short supply. So choices may have to be
made about what to take along . . . and what to leave behind.
Friends and family can help by:
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learning
from the facility exactly what space limitations apply; |
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helping
prepare for the move, including arranging for storage or other disposition of items left behind; |
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marking
all clothing and personal belongings with the person’s name ~ and making (or helping the resident
or facility make)
a list of the resident’s things; |
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anticipating and responding to special concerns, such as care for a
pet. |
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On the Day of the Move
Moving to a new home is always stressful. You can
help minimize feelings of disorientation and dislocation by:
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helping
unpack . . . and making sure that pictures,
personal mementos, and other similar items are
placed
where they
will create a feeling of home; |
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sharing a
meal at the new facility; |
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getting to
know members of staff . . . and learning
about
all the
various programs, services, and activities the
facility has to offer; |
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spending
some quiet time after everything is
unpacked
to make sure
your family member or friend is as
comfortable, relaxed, and reassured as possible. |
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After the Move
Persons who move to a care facility often fear that
their move will come between them and people and activities they love.
They may worry about being alone and out of touch.
It may take some time and effort to get over these
concerns: to be reassured in the support of loved ones; to make new
friends; and to settle into new and interesting patterns of living. You
can help by:
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staying in
touch right from the beginning...communicating frequently and
positively; |
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working
closely with the resident and staff to make
sure
any
difficulties are ironed out; |
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establishing regular visiting times so that the person
can plan ahead for them; |
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making a
few surprise visits as well; |
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visiting
individually or as a family group for special
occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries; and |
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working
with the resident and staff to make the
resident’s new living situation a happy, successful
one. |
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Ten Ways
to Make Living in a Long Term Care Facility More Enjoyable
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Send
flowers or balloons on a special day. |
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Write
cards or notes often. |
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Give a
gift certificate for long distance telephone calling. |
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Visit as
often as you can. |
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Send
pictures, audiotapes, or videotapes of family events,
grandchildren, or friends. |
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Bring a
card or small gift when you visit. |
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Get to
know the resident’s new friends and care
providers, and greet them as part of your visits. |
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Check to
see what types of food items would be
appropriate as a gift, and include them occasionally
when
you visit. |
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Remember
to acknowledge and thank members of
staff
whenever
appropriate. |
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Offer to
take along other long-time friends, so they can
visit also. |
An excellent additional resource is
the "Resident and Family Guide to Long Term Care", from which this
information piece was taken. To order, call 800-448-5213. Or order
online at www.IlluminAge.com.
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