Wondering what to do to prepare for a move from your home into a memory care community? Our team has years of experience helping new residents and their family members gain peace of mind as the moving process begins. Here are some tips for making an easy adjustment from home into a West Chester memory care community.
Schedule a Visit of Your New Community
When visiting any West Chester memory care community, scheduling a tour of the neighborhood can help ease the transition and provide helpful information. The atmosphere and overarching feeling a community creates is something that can be experienced more authentically in-person than virtually. Taking the time to visit will help both you and your loved ones get a feel for the neighborhood and its daily routines.
This can also be a wonderful opportunity to meet some of the current staff and residents. Perhaps request to visit during meal time or a scheduled activity to see the community “in action.” By observing or participating along with other residents, it can be easier to envision yourself as a resident as well.
Enlist Help When Downsizing and Packing
Transitioning from a home you’ve lived in for decades into an apartment requires substantial downsizing. There are many things in your current home that you simply will not need in your new community. When deciding what to pack, it is essential to keep both sentimental value and physical size in mind.
Most memory care communities do not have the square footage to accommodate large personal items, like furniture, and will instead provide safer, updated items for you. On a similar note, there will also be more limited space to store and display small personal items in comparison to a house. Some find it comforting to take photographs of their homes or sentimental items that cannot be moved with them; in doing so, the memory of these things can remain more tangible for a longer period of time.
It may be helpful to recruit family members and friends or hire professionals to assist with this process. Having more than one person working on such a large task will help it seem less daunting. It can also be helpful to have someone with a different perspective to help with making difficult decisions about which items to pack, give away, sell, or donate..
Create a Clear Communication Plan
Ensuring that family members, staff, and pertinent medical professionals are all on the same page regarding this move is crucial. Creating and confirming a plan for the chain of contact helps prevent errors and redundancy.
This is especially helpful when arranging and attending medical appointments, so everyone clearly knows the role they will play in the logistics and communication process. For example, you will need to know who is in charge of booking medical appointments, transportation to and from the medical office, and how any prescriptions or follow up visits will be handled. Having a clear procedure and communication plan allows for less stress and more peace of mind for everyone involved.
Emotionally Prepare for the Move
Although there is no way to fully prepare for a big move, there are certainly small steps that can help ease the emotional adjustment. Relying on a solid support system is one way to ease this transition. Having loved ones available for phone calls or visits, especially in the first few weeks after moving, can help your routine seem more normal.
Similarly, developing genuine connections with staff members and other residents in your new community can create a sense of belonging and security in your new surroundings. Although it can be challenging to branch out and get to know new people, this experience can be quite rewarding and comforting, especially during your transitional time.
Searching for More Support?
If you or a loved one are considering moving into a West Chester Memory Care Community, we’re here to help. Download our free guide for even more in-depth questions, discussion points, and tips to ease the transition into senior living.
