Boxing Up a Lifetime of Memories

 

If we’re lucky enough, our parents will stay around for years to come. That can also mean that you might be helping mom, dad, or both shop for senior living. While finding the perfect senior living that we can trust feels like a tricky process, the next challenge is helping them clean out their homes and downsize their belongings into their new apartment.

Downsizing can be quite an undertaking. If your loved one can help, include them or even let them lead the process if they can. While moving can seem daunting, leaving a long-term home is a major milestone that can create an emotional roller coaster.

Homes are Filled with Emotions

Looking around the house, especially one that’s been lived in for decades, can bring up a lot of feelings. Dad’s bowling ball, trophies, and hand-written scorecards are proudly displayed in his den. As you look at all of them, you can hear the bowling pins being knocked down, the laughs from his buddies, the glasses clicking, and the cheers over strikes and spares. You might even smell a cigar as you stroll down memory lane. It also reminds you of a time when he was stronger and more independent. It makes you wish you could go back in time.

Ahh, memory lane—who can pack boxes with tears streaming down their faces? Again, it’s a blessing to have our elderly loved ones with us as long as possible. However, seeing them change and even decline can bring feelings out of the woodwork.

When fond memories catch up with you while boxing up a lifetime of happiness, stuff can quickly become so much more than stuff. Feelings can pull on our heartstrings and cause us to put everything into the “keep” pile.  Other dilemmas arise if you or your loved one wants to keep too much. Are you really going to rent a storage unit for the stuff that could be dispersed among families or even given to those in need? There must be a better alternative.

Make it a Family Affair

What does your loved one say about the contents of their home? Are they ready to move forward and unload the unnecessary items, or are they trying to bring everything down to the studs to their new apartment?

If they are trying to bring too many items along, it’s a good idea to remind them that the less they bring that they don’t need, the more space and energy they’ll have for new experiences and hobbies. They’re also likely to have a lot of needs covered at their new place, which means they shouldn’t need to bring everything.

Have your folks identified who should receive some of their valuable items or keepsakes, or has a family member asked for something special? Just like growing up and sharing, please remember to do that; at the end of the day, family is everything. Disagreements or strained relationships with loved ones over stuff aren’t worth it. Don’t lose someone because they insisted on keeping a brooch or granny’s gravy boat.

What Do they NEED

Needs versus wants are always tricky, even when we’re not faced with moving. When determining what your loved one needs in their new apartment, find out what’s included. From there, you’ll learn just how much from room to room is ideal.

Senior living communities tend to offer meals and activities, and most all include seasonal chores. With that in mind, you may be able to bring more basics and must-haves, which can reduce the extras.

Sound Familiar?

If you’re facing this situation for your aging loved ones now or will be in the future, preparing in advance is not a terrible idea. A great way to begin is by having a rummage sale or giving unwanted items to charity. While doing that, initiate the conversation with your aging loved ones to gauge their reaction.

There’s no one way to get through this. A helpful way to start is to contact friends and family who may have faced something similar and ask about their experiences. There are also many books available on the subject.

Join us for Our Book Club!

Some Edgewood locations host a book club to discuss Marni Jameson’s Downsizing the Family Home. This book provides an in-depth look into how to help family members make tough decisions about moving out of a long-term home. The club will be informative and a great way to network with others facing similar challenges.

While each family is unique and will have their way of ironing out all of the details when it comes to downsizing, the book or book club experience can be a helpful tool in starting the conversation. It can also offer some helpful validation of what you’re feeling about the process.

If you’re interested in attending a book club or learning more about our senior living services, contact us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.

The Benefits of Moving to Senior Living Now (Yes, Even During COVID)

While families are already facing enough pressure to provide care for their loved ones, adding a pandemic into the mix has not made matters easier. Waiting until COVID-19 settles and our world realigns can seem like a logical reason to put off finding an assisted living community. We know it is an emotionally complex decision to juggle, especially while we’re facing a virus that has proven lethal for seniors. As COVID progresses, Edgewood Healthcare continues to align its practices to keep everyone safe; wellness is at Edgewood’s forefront.

Find Senior Living Near Me

 

To consider that move now rather than later, read about a few benefits that might make this decision easier.

We’re Proactive in Meeting Seniors’ Needs

Accidents, injuries, and illnesses like COVID-19 can happen; however, our healthcare teams are prepared to help you reduce that likelihood. At Edgewood, we are here to help if you fall, keep an eye on your daily health, communicate your needs to your medical providers, and even help manage your medication. By offering regular caregiver check-ins, daily exercise classes, and even on-site physical therapy to encourage strength and stability, we’re here to be one step ahead.

We understand that COVID is the elephant in the room when considering a move, due to the many unknowns. Families often worry whether lockdowns and “safer in place” recommendations could rear their ugly heads again, especially as COVID variants evolve. Yet, COVID has actually created the opportunity for ingenuity. Carmen Dougherty, Executive Director at Edgewood Sioux Falls community, highlighted that flexibility and creativity have both been paramount in successfully managing the everyday challenges that COVID has presented. She explained that texting family members and staying connected virtually has helped residents tremendously.

There’s a Continuum of care at your fingertips

At Edgewood, we understand there are many care and living options available to seniors, and our goal is to provide the best of all these services under one roof.

Across the board, we have seen a rise in depression, decreased endurance and strength, increased falls, and general loss of function in our senior population as a result of the isolation they’ve endured during COVID-19. Our mission is to do everything possible to prevent, slow, and improve these declines by implementing the appropriate therapeutic measures for our residents. We’ve learned throughout this experience and continue to creatively respond to challenges, to improve in any way we can.

Most of us have been forced (likely more than once) to wait to see our medical providers during the pandemic. At Edgewood, we bring the providers right to you in the convenience of your home, so you’re not forced to rely on the local emergency room to treat routine medical issues.

Many of Edgewood’s assisted living communities have on-site therapy and home health services, and several even offer an In-Home Provider Program (think on-site Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants). These providers are currently caring for residents in several Edgewood communities in Idaho, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, with plans to expand into additional states over time. Our goal is to provide ease of access to the vital healthcare services and amenities our 4,000+ residents truly need.

We recently spoke to staff at Edgewood Brookings, to get a real feel for what it was like in their community during the eye of the pandemic. Anna Tellekson, Clinical Services Director, explained that although they had a high rate of seniors contracting COVID-19 in their community, they were able to use a very imaginative approach by partnering with their local hospital to offer treatment on-site. That creativity allowed many residents to bypass the already overworked emergency rooms, and instead receive care in the comfort of their own home. Residents who required oxygen and IV treatments were able to have those services on-site, without requiring a hospital admission or waiting in the ER.

Communal Living Reduces Social Isolation

As we age, we know it can become challenging to socialize, especially during the frigid winter months. Not having a daily workplace to go to or a routine to follow can feel isolating and, in some cases, opens the door to feelings of loneliness or depression. With so many families facing quarantines and practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID, our visits with our loved ones have changed drastically.

Assisted living communities offset this by providing daily life enrichment activities that residents can enjoy. From games to movies, fitness classes, crafts, music, outings, and even happy hour, residents can remain as active as they choose while meeting new people who share common interests.

It’s undeniable that a COVID-19 case could arise, but nonetheless, we’ve created alternatives to ensure our residents are provided safety but still have the interaction they deserve. When social distancing recommendations and quarantines were at their peak at Edgewood Brookings, teams were there every step of the way to offer reassurance, creativity, and flexibility in meeting with residents and their families. In speaking with Samantha Heibult, Business Office Director at Edgewood in Brookings, she explained that during COVID, she and her team would work together to do whatever was needed to help, no matter their role at Edgewood. She would visit residents in their rooms and help with meals or personal care, but most importantly, she would stop by to socialize so that they didn’t feel alone. Stephanie Vlaminick, Manager at Edgewood Brookings Memory Care, elaborated —“I brought my personal cell phone into rooms so people could stay connected with their loved ones by phone and just say I love you.”Assisted living communities like Edgewood strive to provide residents a home-like environment that includes meals, housekeeping, transportation, medication management, and countless opportunities for social, physical and spiritual engagement, even during a pandemic.

While there’s no need to continue waiting out COVID alone, if you’re uncertain about whether a permanent move is right for you or a loved one, consider a short-term stay to “try before you buy.” A short-term stay can give you the real feel of assisted living and ensure that you have in-person help available during uncertain times.

Call to schedule a tour today!

When evaluating assisted living options, don’t be afraid to ask valuable questions about the safety measures in place. Feel free to also ask for flexibility in scheduling meetings and tours.

Here are a few questions to consider:

Rest assured, we have proactive practices and processes set in place by each state health department to keep you as safe as possible. Our teams at Edgewood Healthcare understand that COVID has created countless challenges for seniors and their families. If you are exploring senior living options for yourself or a loved one but are concerned about safety measures, we are here for you!

Find a community near you, or contact us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.