There are many reasons why you might have to consider moving your aging relative to assisted living in Westchase. Often, the benefits of assisted living outweigh the benefits of living at home. Apart from stress-free living, assisted living provides crucial amenities for a healthy and active life. They also offer more chances for aging folks to socialize and make new friends.
That said, no one is ever fully prepared to leave their home and start life somewhere else regardless of how good it is. Essentially, older adults also struggle with homesickness when they move into assisted living neighborhoods. Fortunately, it is a problem that can be fixed. Here are some valuable tips on how to deal with homesickness for older adults residing in Westchase assisted living.
Potential Home Sickness Triggers
It is crucial to highlight the likely causes of homesickness before delving into possible ways to contain it. The sad feeling of being away from home comes about for several reasons. To begin with, being away from the usual home setting means that one has to compromise their daily routine and adapt to new surroundings. That takes time. Other than that, stems from the social anxiety related to the need of having to fit into the new setting.
Older adults also have friends and neighbors that they have to live away from for seeking assisted living. Primarily, the feeling is linked to an instinctive need for security, love, and protection. In a way, homesickness makes one long for familiar faces and familiar things back at home.
Hang Around Some Family Photos
The first effective way to combat homesickness is to hang family photos around the new room. Older adults get homesick from the worry of being separated from their loved ones. Pictures of their favorite relatives provided warmth and stir treasured memories to keep the elderly at ease as they settle into the assisted living community.
Make the New Accommodation Clean and Organized
When a new room looks dirty and disorganized, it is likely to trigger homesickness. To avoid such instances, it is advisable to keep the assisted living accommodation clean and well-arranged. Housekeeping services in assisted living communities help get rid of all clutter and eliminate dust and dirt.
Not only will this move improve the mood of your elderly relative but also make him or her feel loved, secure, and at home.
Add More Color for Improved Mood and Energy
Warm colors are associated with better mood levels and improved energy. Thus, it would be nice to paint the walls of the new accommodation to make your loved one feel at ease in the face of all the pressure and anxiety that comes with settling into a new environment. If it is not possible to repaint the walls, you can simply utilize bed sheets and pillows with warm colors to achieve the same effect. Colorful art pieces are also perfect in this regard.
Make the New Place Comfortable
Home is usually warm and comfortable. The same should be reflected in the new living room in the assisted living community. You should provide your aging relative with their beloved mug collection, favorite mementos, cozy blankets, or anything that may make their living joyous and comfortable. It is also crucial to customize the new living environment to the liking of your loved one to give it a homely feeling and make the nesting process easy.
Time to Deal with Home Sickness
It would be wrong to assume that your loved one will smoothly settle into the new environment in assisted living communities. Older adults also struggle with homesickness and you should find ways to make it easy for them. The tips highlighted above should be sufficient in addressing homesickness.
