After settling in a single place for what seems to be an eternity, long-term care in an assisted living neighborhood is likely to seem completely foreign to you or your loved one. This unfamiliar environment can lead to reluctance and resistance to change, piling on unhealthy stressors. However, assisted living doesn’t have to be unfamiliar for long. With these tips, you or your loved one will be able to assimilate into senior assisted living in Metairie, LA in no time!
Make Your Room Feel Like Home
Assisted living functions as a residential care service, so take advantage of your living space by transforming it into a comfortable personal haven for yourself! As a resident, make sure to bring memories from your previous home for reassurance, such as any framed pictures or photo albums you had in your previous home. If you’re helping a loved one move into their new home, ask the retirement community’s team whether you could set up the apartment before your loved one officially moves in. Not only does this make your loved one’s official moving day less intimidating, but it can help them to settle in easier and more comfortably.
Chat With the Team
The caregivers in your retirement community aren’t only trained to provide aid, they’re also trained to provide companionship. Hence, don’t hesitate to interact with the caregiver team members in your retirement community. By forging a bond with your caregivers, you can expect better care from them as well, as they become more familiar with your needs and preferences. This familiarity can help you to enjoy your assisted living experience more comfortably and naturally. As a relative, you should also aim to communicate with the caregivers in your loved one’s retirement community, so that you can build more trust in the community to protect your loved one properly.
Get to Know Your Fellow Residents
Always make sure to encourage your loved one to make new connections in their new environment! Rather than isolating yourself in your room, your best bet at making the community feel more homey is to get to know everyone else around you. Due to the tight-knit nature of retirement communities, you’ll soon find familiar faces everywhere in the assisted living neighborhood, similar to your old neighborhood. Additionally, you’ll be able to navigate the community much more confidently and happily if you’re doing it with a friend.
Enjoy the Amenities to the Fullest
When you enter a new place for the first time, many tend to hesitate and act more withdrawn, refusing to leave their comfort zone. Retirement communities offer amenities to make their residents feel more at home, so there’s no harm in enjoying them to the fullest. Whether it’s the dining hall or the library, the more you explore your surroundings, the faster you’ll be able to adjust to this new environment. By doing so, every corner of the assisted living community can become your comfort zone!
If you’re looking for a retirement community that can support you or your loved one’s lifestyle as you continue to mature, consider our.
