Time For Assisted Living? 3 Steps To Make The Transition Easier
Growing old is never easy, especially when it begins to interfere with your ability to care for yourself. If you've decided that it's time to move to an assisted living facility, make sure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Change can be stressful. However, with some careful planning, you can alleviate some of that stress. Here are three simple suggestions that will help you make the transition from independence to assistance.
Take Your Time
Now that you're preparing to move into an assisted living facility, you'll need to pack up the home that you're living in. Don't rush the transition. Packing things in a hurry may increase the stress that you're experiencing. While you're packing, take the time you need to sort through your belongings. One way to make the sorting process go more smoothly, is to begin with three separate piles – keep, toss and give-away.
Resist the urge to move throughout the house. Instead, focus on one room at a time. As you sort, place each item in the corresponding pile. Once you're done, you can pack up the items you're taking with you, arrangement to have your giveaway pile picked up, and toss the items you no longer need – or want.
Avoid Immediate Home Sale
If you own the home you'll be moving out of, you may be thinking about selling it. You might even have family members who are urging you to sell quickly. However, it's a good idea to avoid the immediate sale of your home. This is particularly true if you still have an emotional attachment to your home. If you're not financially dependent on the sale of your home, hang on to it until you're ready to let go. This will give you the time you need to prepare yourself emotionally.
Make Friends
Once you make arrangements to move into your new facility, it's important that you reach out to other residents. Don't wait until you've moved in to get involved. Ask the facility director for a list of activities that you can get involved in. Make a list of the activities you'd enjoy and arrange to attend a few meetings prior to your move-in date. This will ensure that you have a support group already in place when you move into your new home.
If it's time to transition to an assisted living facility, use the tips provided here to alleviate some of the stress.
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