I have had diabetes my entire life, and I am very thankful for the fact that modern medical discoveries have helped me live a happy, healthy life despite my disease. I have had to watch what I eat and take medications daily for most of my life, and while i used to feel like I was "missing out" when other children were able to eat sugary candy and I wasn't, I eventually learned that sugar-free candy tastes great. I am always keeping up on the latest diabetes research, and while researching, I have also learned about many other diseases and ailments and how they are treated and controlled. I know others are too busy to browse a bunch of medical websites, like I like to do, so I decided to start a blog that others can visit that contains information on a variety of medical topics all in one place!
Modern Medicine Saves Lives Every Day
What To Do After You Put Your Loved One In Assisted Living
For Content
It's never easy to put a loved one in assisted living, even when you know it's the right choice. When your loved one is no longer able to live on their own, assisted living is often the best option to allow them some level of independence while still knowing that they are well taken care of. They will experience a period of adjustment and so will you. Now you just need to learn how to best deal with the act of putting a loved one in assisted living.
Managing the First Few Days
You had to put your loved one in assisted living because you couldn't devote every moment of your day to them. There were safety issues, as well as the things you needed to do in your own life. Now you need to keep that in mind and allow them a period of adjustment rather than immediately hovering over them on a daily basis. Not only can your hovering interfere with their adjustment, it can also give them an unrealistic expectation that you will continue to hover.
- Instead of visiting right away, call the center when you feel uneasy or just want to check in. This gives your loved one time to adjust to a new setting, but also gives you peace of mind.
- Write letters and mail them in to your loved one. This helps you feel like you are in touch with them, but it also gives you time to reflect on what you really want to say. Receiving the letter is going to give them joy they didn't expect that day.
- Set up a visitation schedule that you can manage on a regular basis. Instead of daily visits, consider weekly ones because that may be something you can continue with beyond the first couple of weeks. By starting a schedule you can maintain, you won't feel the guilt that can come when you start a schedule you can't really maintain and end up not being able to follow it.
Explore Hobbies Together
If your loved one has hobbies they enjoy, now is the perfect time for them to embrace those hobbies. They will have activities to do during the day, but they need something to do during the down time. Encouraging those hobbies can also help you manage visits and give you something to focus on together.
- Bring something to do during visitation. If your loved one enjoys playing cards, bring a deck when you visit. Otherwise, you may end up staring at each other and experiencing more emotional moments than either of you wants to. This helps provide them with enjoyment, but it can also reduce your anxiety as you keep your mind occupied and help them to do the same.
- Bring in or mail books concerning the details of the hobby. By bringing in or mailing in information, you let your loved one know you are thinking of them, but you can also look at the material first so you know more about the hobby and the materials required.
- Always check with staff first to make sure you aren't bringing in anything that isn't allowed. You might be surprised to learn about some of the items that are considered contraband and you may need to make special arrangements for some things that are pertinent to the hobby.
In some ways, dealing with the placement of a loved one in assisted living is harder on you than it is on them. They don't want to feel like a burden and you never wanted them to feel like one either. Now you can both enjoy the independence that your lifestyles offer you and enjoy each other's company during visits rather than either of you resenting the other's roles in life.
If you are in the process of searching for an assisted living facility, consider visiting Alpine Manor Home For Adults.
Share