Have you ever stopped to think about what your relatives really need in a nursing home? I didn't use to worry so much about what my family members needed in their later years, but a few months ago it occurred to me that it was time to make some changes. I started realizing that there were some serious issues with the way that my family was living, so I talked with them about the possibility of finding a nursing home. They were a little nervous about the concept at first, but after I found a great facility they really responded well to treatment. Check out this blog for great tips on recognizing nursing care needs early.
If the time has come to place your parent in a skilled nursing facility, you'll want to make sure that they adjust to their new surroundings. Moving into a new place can be stressful, especially when they'll be away from friends and family. Here are some tips you can follow that will help your parent adjust to their new home.
Understand Your Parent's Care Needs
When it comes to ensuring a good transition for your parent, it's important that you choose a skilled nursing facility that will suit their needs. Care that is either too much or not enough can leave your parent feeling isolated. This is particularly true where memory issues are concerned. If your parent is in the beginning stages of dementia, they may not be ready for constant supervision. However, if your parent is in the advanced stages of dementia, they won't be safe without the constant supervision. Try to choose a nursing facility that provides a variety of supervision styles for your parent's changing needs.
Spend the Day Getting to Know People
Once you've moved your parent into their new nursing facility, spend the first day getting to know people. Walk around the facility with your parent and help them introduce themselves to their neighbors. This will allow them to develop a social circle while they'll have someone familiar by their side. Be sure to help your parent introduce themselves to the nursing staff. During this first day, be sure to introduce yourself to the staff as well. That way, you can put names to the faces of the people who will be caring for your parent.
Arrange Frequent Visits
Your parent is going to be living in an unfamiliar setting. Because of this, you want to make sure that you arrange frequent visits. Your parent will have an easier time adjusting to their new surroundings if they know that they'll be seeing you on a regular basis. Not only that, but the frequent visits will allow you to monitor the level of care that your parent is receiving.
Watch for Warning Signs
As soon as you have your parent settled into their new nursing facility, you should begin to watch for warning signs. These warning signs will help you determine if your parent is in the right setting. Some warning signs include loss of appetite, withdrawal from social settings, and depression. If your parent experiences any of these things, they may be having a difficult time adjusting to the changes.