After a long talk over the holidays, you’ve been helping your mom shop for an assisted living community. She has lived in the home where you grew up for 45 years. Your dad passed away a few years ago, and she’s beginning to struggle, which is why you’re in the market.
Having been a teacher for most of her life, your mom was always a social butterfly. She stayed active after retirement, but the COVID-19 pandemic took away her card games and trivia nights. Living alone, she worries that there’s no one available to help her in an emergency, overnight, or when severe weather strikes, which is a fear you both share.
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You took what you thought to be the last tour in a community she loved. It’s the one where you could see your mom enjoying her life again. The place knocked it out of the park with its friendly staff, apartment layout, amenities, on-site healthcare services, and transportation options. Even more importantly, your mom can afford it!
As you began writing the check, she said, “Wait, I am not ready.” This is difficult for you to accept for many reasons, especially health-wise, as you feel she can’t afford to move.
Second Thoughts
Your mom’s resistance extends far beyond affordability, advantages, or even what is truly best for her. She worries she’ll lose the connection to your dad if she leaves their shared home. She feels connected to him at home in his recliner—as if he’s still there. She finds great solace at home, even though she’s lost weight, she’s having falls (more than she’s admitting), and she’s not taking her medications as prescribed.
Rather than letting you know that his memory is why she wants to stay at home, your mom goes down a list of concerns, from having too much stuff that won’t fit into an apartment to minimizing her need for help. While you feel defeated by this, it’s an all-too-familiar story.
Accepting Change
Part of accepting change means recognizing that there may be anxieties. Sometimes, it takes multiple tours or even a short-term stay to acclimate. A pushed move or an unwanted change may not be the best. Sometimes, if we’re genuinely not ready for something, we think of more barriers than benefits.
If your loved one feels a unique connection to furniture or other items from their home, ask the prospective new residence how you can work together to bring the comforts of home into their new setting. This will help to make the transition more comfortable. Sometimes, it’s not the whole bedroom set, but perhaps they want a comfy afghan or cute bedside table.
If your dad’s recliner will seal the deal so your mom has everything she needs in her new home, try to work it in. Just remember, many assisted living communities offer a lot of conveniences, so you shouldn’t need to pack the whole house.
It is important to allow time to acknowledge your loved one’s fears about moving into an assisted living community. If uncertainties are causing a significant delay in moving and safety becomes an issue, check with your loved one’s prospective community to help alleviate their fears.
At Edgewood, we offer unique features to help new residents acclimate seamlessly:
- Short-term stays to try it out—stay for a week, a month, or a season
- On-site healthcare to make their move safe
- All the amenities they need are at their fingertips
- Transparency in pricing
Moving can be scary, but senior living doesn’t have to be. Reach out to us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com to learn how we can help your loved ones enjoy their retirement chapters!
