Have you ever heard the song Time Marches On by Tracy Lawrence? It was a popular country song in the mid-90’s and I haven’t heard it in YEARS. I had a conversation with a friend recently, just about our lives and all of the changes that have been going on, and the chorus to this song popped into my head: “The only thing that stays the same is that everything changes.”
Life is all about change and transition. It can be good, bad, joyous, scary or all of the above. Sometimes it’s a choice and sometimes we have no control, but change will happen and we have to embrace it! I am currently in the process of buying my first home. Hopefully I will have the keys in my hand by the time this blog posts! I know things will come up that I cannot anticipate and I am looking forward to it all, but this is a change that I have chosen to make. I am happy to be packing and moving and it will be easy for my family and friends to support me, but what happens when you are not looking forward to a change? When something has been decided for you or has been made necessary by circumstances out of your control?
This is the challenge that many of our residents and their families face when moving into our community. Most often a move to assisted living has been made necessary because of declining health or issues of safety. Residents do not want to give up their homes or, as they often view it, their independence. How do family and friends assist through this type of move?
I found an amazing article, by Emilee Seltzer, entitled Helping Elderly Parents Transition into Assisted Living. Seltzer offers excellent advice that I HAD to pass along. Whether you are currently considering assisted living or have a loved one who is having a difficult time adjusting, I highly recommend taking a minute to look it over. For both new residents and family it is important to understand that there WILL be an adjustment period. This timeframe can range anywhere from a week to a few months. For new residents it is key to keep an open mind. This may not be what they want, but every situation has a silver lining, finding the good will make things easier. For family and friends it is important to not feel guilty. You may be going against what your loved one wants, but remember the decision was made for their safety and well being.
Another key factor in the adjustment process is the staff. It is our job to now care for your loved one. We need to develop an open and trusting relationship with them. At Regency Grand we have several programs in place to help our new residents and their families adjust. Our Resident Ambassador Program (see April blog) is designed to have “built-in” friends ready and waiting. Our staff also provides complimentary escorts to meals and activities for the first two weeks, to help new residents learn their way around the community. Our management team has an “open door” policy and is here to address any questions or concerns that come up along the way.
We also hold a Care Plan Meeting after the first two weeks of a resident being with us. This meeting gives our staff, the new resident, and their families the chance to review and discuss how things are going. We are here for our residents and their families and take great pride in fostering and maintaining those relationships. Hard decisions will have to be made, more things will come up, but we have seen it all and are here to guide and support through all of the ups and downs.
