Moving a parent to memory care and transitioning to a specialized nursing home is hard. Arden Courts shares their insight on this sensitive matter.

The hassles and logistical challenges in knowing how to transition Alzheimer’s patient into memory care can be a harrowing and emotional journey. It is a difficult condition to navigate, especially if family members work outside the home. But eventually will come a time when most older adults experiencing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia are no longer safe to live independently. There are many prestigious centers that offer good service, but for us, one of the better is without doubt Arden Courts.

Arden Courts know that finding out that one of our parents has Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia can feel overwhelming, especially when there are so many decisions to make that will directly impact the level of care your loved one will receive. It’s important to know that you’re not alone. Many children have successfully helped their parents with the transition to nursing home dementia.

Once you understand the need of moving a parent to memory care, it is still difficult for you to accept the decision. Moreover, your emotions run even higher when you think about telling your loved one and anticipate the moving day. In that cases, having a go-to list of tips and suggestions can help you and your family to better prepare to carry out the transition to nursing home dementia. 

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How to transition Alzheimer’s patient into memory care?  Guidelines for transition to nursing home dementia

If you have doubts about how to transition Alzheimer’s patient into memory care, to help ease moving a parent to memory care for your loved one (and for you), we have reassembled some recommendations with the aid of the medical experts at Arden Courts, one of our top memory care providers at My Active Senior:

1. Understand the emotions: 

One of the most important tasks in this path is to learn how to process the emotions that can be aroused in the transition to nursing home dementia. First of all, you have to remain positive. Your loved one will likely reflect the same feelings that you do about moving a parent to memory care. If you are constantly fretting and seem anxious, they likely will too. You need to encourage your loved one to be excited about the transition.

Part of this is to understand your loved one may be afraid of being lonely. Moving to memory care may be frightening for a parent. If you are looking to know the best way how to transition Alzheimer’s patient into memory care, you must know that always it’s better to listen more than talk. They are afraid of being isolated from their family members same as all. 

That’s why is important to listen to and validate your loved one’s feelings.  It is important to remember that for the person with dementia, the most important part of ‘home’ is not the walls or the physical address – it is the feeling of having support immediately around them. It’s possible that they have the need to feel safe and have a sense of community and belonging. 

By last, don’t feel guilty. The decision to move your loved one can understandably be accompanied by guilt and apprehension. But your loved one suffering from dementia relies on the people around them to feel safe, secure, and comfortable. This means that if you aren’t feeling confident in the decision to realize their transition to nursing home dementia, they won’t either. You should know that in residences like Arden Courts, they will get the care that they need. 

2. Avoid Overwhelming Statements: 

In the best of worlds, your parent can participate in a decision to move to Memory Care. However, dementia often causes impairment in decision-making ability. In these cases, if you’re wondering how to transition Alzheimer’s patient into memory care, maybe you can feel tempted to try to explain your reasoning or sentiment about the decision to your loved one. You should not. Instead, the best way to proceed is to rely on healthcare professionals for help in explaining the situation.

Often a doctor or other healthcare professional can be an ally at the moment you need to explain to your loved ones in a calm but authoritative manner why a transition to nursing home dementia is ultimately a positive move. 

One of the topics that you must avoid when you are moving a parent to memory care is telling them that they need more help. It’s important to remember that dementia impacts a person’s reasoning and processing skills so, by the time they need 24-hour care, people with dementia are no longer able to identify the fact that they have a problem. In this scenario, if you suggest they can’t do something, they can get very angry and you will only be met with resistance.

Instead, you should recognize the transition to nursing home dementia will be challenging and reassure your loved ones. The main point is for families to reassure their loved ones that they will be nearby and continue to see them which can limit any associated anxiety.

3. Describe what is happening: 

When evaluating how to transition Alzheimer’s patient into memory care, one of the things that you always keep in mind is how to break the news in a positive way. The best way to explain is using descriptive, positive statements about what is happening and where they are going. Stay positive and focus on assuring them that they will be safe, supported, and will belong in their new community.

If you are evaluating moving a parent to memory care like Arden Courts, some positive statements that you can make in the transition to nursing home dementia could include reaffirmations of the commodities of the place, like “we are all going to a beautiful place today” or “all the people there are kind and supportive”. Also, you can try to let them know that it’s not a permanent decision, telling them “we are sure you’ll feel safe and comfortable there, but you let me know if it’s not working” or “we are just testing things out, you let me know if it’s not for you”.

4. Make it familiar:

For people with problems of memory loss, being surrounded by familiar things helps to decrease their stress and anxiety. You should try to recreate as much of the home environment as possible. Think about what some of their favorite things from home are and try to have them in place at the assisted living community before they arrive. Maybe it’s a throw they cover up within their favorite chair. Or it could be a cherished photo from their wedding day.

Whatever belongings signal “home” to your parent are important to incorporate into their new space. One of the signatures of Five Star’s Bridge to Rediscovery Memory Care program that we have in Arden Courts is the keepsake box that includes special mementos.

5. Seek Advice

If your loved one has reached a stage in their disease where an assisted living or memory care situation is feeling like the right moving a parent to memory care, don’t hesitate to contact your nearest community. A dementia specialist can provide guidance and support.

If you’ve chosen the right care facility for your loved ones, it will begin to feel like home to them in no time. The caregivers you’ve entrusted will no doubt provide your parent with all the care and support needed to live a happy and healthy life. And could help you to know how to transition Alzheimer’s patient into memory care.

Arden Courts facilities are staffed by specially trained caregivers, they devote their time and memory care to individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. They work with you during the assessment to determine how much you would like to be involved in your loved one’s care.

If your loved one has reached that moment in their disease where they need more help and transition to nursing home dementia feels like the right decision, don’t hesitate. Making the transition into memory care can be difficult but by taking these steps, you can help make it a little bit easier for both you and your loved one. Arden Courts are here to provide your loved ones the comfort as well as the care they need and will help them get a feel for the new environment,  you can ensure that your loved one receives the best possible care.

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