If someone close to you is either preparing to enter a care home or has moved into one, you may be unsure how to offer your support. Care homes are designed to be the perfect place for people who need extra assistance in their daily lives, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging. When someone you know and love needs to move into a care home, there are ways you can help them to make it an easier process. Here’s how to support your loved one in a care home.
Help to Make Their Space More Personal
Moving into a care home can be a stressful experience for anyone, even someone who feels that they are prepared for the upcoming change in their circumstances. You can help your loved one by being there during the move and bringing personal items to make their space less intimidating. Most care homes want to provide comfortable rooms for their residents, but that doesn’t mean they feel like home. Personal possessions and sometimes even furniture will go a long way to enhancing the familiarity of the new space.
Get to Know the Staff
There are two main ways to get to know the staff at the care home of your loved one. The first is to meet them directly and have conversations about your loved one’s care. At places like Signature Care Homes, you can trust that staff are highly skilled and reliable. The second way is to read reviews for the care home and talk to other residents and their families about their experiences. Knowing the staff allows you to have more agency when supporting your loved one.
Make Plans to Look Forward To
You can also support your loved one by making plans that they can look forward to. This could include family celebrations, days out, or special activities.
Visit as Often as You Can
If you live close enough to visit on a regular basis, this can be a fantastic way to improve your loved one’s experience of living in a care home. Some residents can feel isolated from their friends and family after they have moved, so show your support by paying visits and offering social opportunities.
Let Important People Know
Ask your loved one who they would like to visit them in their new place of residence. You could also check their address book to find out who might be interested in dropping by during visiting hours. Sometimes distant relatives or friends might not know that your loved one has moved into a care home, so sharing this information with the relevant people could make it easier to settle in.
It isn’t always easy to know what to do for a loved one in a care home. This is especially true if it’s the first time that someone you know has moved into one. You can make it easier for them by transforming their new space, becoming familiar with the care home staff, making time for visits, and arranging fun plans together. These are some simple ways to support someone you love in a care home.
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