The idea of picking up your entire life and moving to a senior living facility can feel daunting at best. At worst, it could feel like losing or abandoning a life that you know and love. It is no surprise that many people have a really difficult time during this period.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the biggest fears that potential residents often have. By being aware of these emotional hurdles, you can strategize ways to make this transition as smooth as possible.

Moving to a new house

More often than not, moving into a senior living facility can require a substantial downsizing. The resident may feel like he or she is having to say goodbye to an entire lifetime of meaningful memories. What can be even more emotionally taxing is feeling as though you no longer have privacy in your own home. It is important that residents are encouraged to personalize their space so it feels like their own.

Adjusting to a new schedule

When you no longer are the one determining things like what to eat and when it can feel like a huge loss of autonomy. Losing the ability to manage your own life can be – as you would imagine – incredibly uncomfortable, especially when you have to rely on people you do not know to handle things like your medications and dosages. Helping residents adapt to a new routine is critical, which could include having the same employees dedicated to working with an individual at the beginning of their stay.

Meeting new people

For a lot of us, meeting new friends is extremely nerve-wracking, especially if you have a strong social circle in your previous living situation. And yet friendships have been shown to have a large impact on one’s overall health and wellbeing, so it is essential that residents have ample opportunities to integrate into their new surroundings. Keep in mind that this may be a lot more difficult for some people than others.

Finding new activities

In some ways, this is also connected to establishing a new routine. Some of the activities that new residents love the most might be difficult or impossible for them to do in the senior living facility. While it is a good idea to encourage residents to find ways to pursue their old hobbies, they should also be encouraged to try new ones as well, which can be a great way to expand one’s social circle and make new friends.

 

Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash