Placing your loved one into a nursing home is rarely ever easy. You’re bound to experience a complex mix of emotions, while your family member may feel discouraged by the process. Despite these feelings, it may be the best possible care option for your elderly relative. AARP offers the following advice on how you can ease the transition into nursing care.
It’s best to talk to your loved one well before the need for a nursing home arises. Discussing your options and how decisions will be made in advance can be comforting. It also allows you to develop a plan, which will prevent you from making difficult decisions in a rush at a later date. You can take this opportunity to ask your relative what he or she really wants in a nursing home, which provides greater control over the decision.
Additionally, reassure your loved one that just because he or she is a resident in a nursing home doesn’t mean that your responsibility ends. You should still visit frequently to make sure your loved one is properly socialized. Paying frequent visits also allow you to keep tabs on the quality of the nursing home. If there are any issues, don’t hesitate to bring them up to the administrators or other authorities.
Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself. When seniors have advanced medical needs or struggle with chronic illnesses, the family are not usually able to provide sufficient care. Also, many nursing homes go above and beyond when providing care to residents, from serving nutritious foods to making sure there are plenty of activities and opportunities for socialization.
