At Always Best Care South Bay, we recognize that transitioning into assisted living can present a number of challenges and concerns for both new residents and their family members. We strongly believe in providing a safe, independent and dignified lifestyle for every client.

Always Best Care South Bay is the one of the only home care agencies to also help families find alternative living situations that meet their financial and care needs. We have visited and evaluated nearly 200 assisted living communities and residential care facilities in the South Bay and can advise families on a range of living options, helping to bring clarity to a very important family decision. Our knowledgeable and compassionate team wishes to provide you and your family with the best resources to ensure a smooth transition into assisted living.

Strategies For Family Members

1. Asking for Help From Friends and Family

Moving a loved one into assisted living requires a lot of work, planning, and can be emotionally difficult. Ask other family members and friends to help take the burden off your shoulders. You may be faced with overwhelming tasks, such as downsizing an entire home or feeling overwhelmed with guilt, anxiety or other emotions. Reaching out to friends, family and professionals for help is an essential part of dealing with theses challenges. The changes involved with moving a loved one into assisted living cannot and should not be dealt with alone.

2. Visit Assisted Living Communities Together

Each assisted living community offers different levels of care, varying rates and styles. Communities range from high rise buildings to classic Victorian style, and the room configurations vary from studios to one or two bedroom apartments with kitchenettes.

Once we know your budget, level of care needed, and desired location, we will identify 3-4 homes that match your criteria and then personally escort you to visit each of them. No, we don’t hand you a list and send you on your way. In fact, we’ll provide you with a list of questions to consider and an assessment protocol to help you evaluate each home – all in an effort to help you make an informed and confident decision.

In addition, you will have our expertise at your fingertips. If by chance you’re not satisfied with what you see, don’t worry. We’ll go back to the drawing board and identify another set of homes to visit. Although our assisted living placement services help you to carefully choose appropriate facilities based on our client’s needs and preferences, you are never obligated to select one of those communities if you do not wish to do so.

3. Keep in Touch and Give it Time

Transitioning into assisted living typically takes a new resident between three and six months to adjust. However, this is only an average. It could take less or more time. Part of the adjustment time depends on communication, so staying in touch and visiting your parent regularly can be beneficial. Frequent visits help ease stress and feelings of abandonment or loneliness. Often times, new residents find it easier to meet other residents at activities or in the dining room when they have a companion with them. However, if your parent becomes too dependent on your company, such as calling you several times a day, or only participating in activities when you visit, it may be more beneficial to give them space to be more independent.

Strategies For New Residents of Assisted Living

1. Ask Questions at Always Best Care

Residents are assessed when they move into an assisted living community in order to ensure the community is the best fit for them. An individualized service plan will be created to ensure that every member in the assisted living community gets the best care possible.

However, it’s essential that you ask any and all questions in order to ensure you are comfortable with the decision. Transitioning involves a lot of changes, which can cause residents to feel powerless if they don’t voice their opinion and ask for clarification. If you are unsure about anything, no matter how minor it may feel, ask a Care Manager with Always Best Care; it will help you feel more at ease and in control of your new environment.

2. Bring Personalized Items to Your New Assisted Living Home

Making your new residence feel like a home is one of the biggest challenges. Bringing personal items that have personal significance, such as pictures, knick-knacks, medals, favourite books or family heirlooms, will help ease the transition.

Be present and take initiative when you are downsizing your possessions to ensure you can bring your most valued possessions with you. Keeping personalized items is an excellent coping mechanism to help deal with the change.

3. Socialize and Get Involved

When moving into a new place, making acquaintances and friends will make a huge difference. Getting involved with your community will give you a sense of purpose and belonging. Having a sense of purpose and feeling happier is associated with longer life expectancy and reduces feelings of depression and loneliness.

Initially it may feel overwhelming or difficult to get involved, but the effort you make in the beginning to get involved will be incredibly rewarding and beneficial in the long run.

Assisted living is appropriate for anyone who isn’t able to live on their own and doesn’t require constant medical care and still wishes to maintain a level of independence. Assisted living residents often suffer from memory disorders, have limited mobility, or a number of other challenges that makes living alone difficult. It’s important that you and your loved one visit the communities and choose one that you and your loved one are comfortable with. Our Always Best Care Team will personally escort you and your family to any assisted living community, residential care homes, and memory care facilities that matches your needs.

Did we mention that this is a FREE service? We invite you to call Always Best Care South Bay at (310) 792-8666 anytime for more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation.