When Your Parent Makes the Move to Assisted Living

While many older adults wish to live out their senior years at home, for some, it is not a manageable option. Moreover, no matter our age, change can be challenging, and it is no different for seniors when the time comes for them move into an assisted living community.  

To ease the transition, experts offer several tips that can help make the move less stressful.  One suggestion is to start planning way ahead of the time you anticipate you will need to make the move.  So if you can, do not wait until your parent needs to go from a hospital stay into assisted living. The advantage to starting your search way in advance of the move is it allows you the time to find a place ideally suited to your loved ones’ needs and personality.  Always remember it is a huge life transition and should be treated as such. 

If possible, it is recommended to try and pick from one of the assisted living communities in the area they reside in as it allows them to retain some continuity in their lives including keeping their doctors.  They can also continue to visit area friends and companions. If you will be moving the person to another town or state to be closer to family, keep in mind this can be especially difficult and your parent may need even more support.  Experts advise in this situation to have more services in place rather than less. If later you find you do not need some of them, you can cancel them.  

Another tip is to visit the new community as often as possible before the move.  Along with a formal tour of the community, make arrangements for them to have lunch there several times before they move in or participate in an activity or special event.  The more familiar they are with their new home the easier the transition will be.  

MorningStar of Happy Valley’s goal is to be the best assisted living and memory care in the area, and we work hard to create a true “home” for residents. Our community has 61 private assisted living suites available in a variety of configurations including spacious studio and one and two-bedroom floorplans.  We have another 27 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood dedicated to the specialized care of those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Please visit our website for pricing and availability.      

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are honored to create a true “home” for residents.  Contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living in the Happy Valley – Clackamas area.