Some ways to help the transition to assisted living go more smoothly include:

• Deciding what to bring in advance
• Moving belongings into their new home a couple days early
• Encouraging social interaction
• Helping your loved one have a positive emotional transition

1. DECIDING WHAT TO BRING

It’s a good idea to start the packing process well before the move-in date. Find out which personal items are most important to your loved one, but avoid bringing too many of the same item, such as coats. Also keep in mind that unlike the smaller items (clothes, keepsakes, photographs), larger items like furniture will require some planning when moving to assisted living. Ask the assisted living community what furniture, if any, will be provided.

Some families choose to furnish apartments with brand new furniture. However, be sure to bring some familiar items too. This will help your loved one feel more comfortable and establish that feeling of being “at home” in their new apartment.

2. MOVING BELONGINGS EARLY

Find out if it’s possible to move your loved one’s possessions a day or two prior to the actual move-in date. This will give you the opportunity to set up their apartment by unpacking, assembling furniture and running errands. As a result, you can spend their first actual day at the community focused on helping them adjust to their new home.

Assistance may be available from the community to help you with the move-in process. Ask for a floor plan to get an idea of how the apartment should be organized and arranged—this will make setup easier and faster for you, and help your loved one adjust more quickly.

3. ENCOURAGING SOCIAL INTERACTION

A great way to help your senior loved one acclimate is by getting them engaged in the activities offered at the  assisted living community that appeal to them. Focus on the opportunities they will have to make new friends and participate in events. Ask for an activities calendar and find the events that they will enjoy most. Also, help them meet new neighbors by joining your loved one for their first meal in the dining room.

4. HELPING MAKE THE EMOTIONAL TRANSITION A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

Moving is an emotional experience for all of us—but even more so for an older adult. Moving to assisted living can feel overwhelming and daunting, but it can also be an exciting change that should be embraced. Both of you may experience many different emotions throughout the process, but these feelings are normally temporary as everyone works on adjusting to this next phase of life. It’s important to recognize these feelings and find ways to embrace the move.

Let your loved one know that you understand moving to assisted living and navigating the transition may be hard for them, and that you are here to talk and listen. Be respectful, but be upbeat! Positive reinforcement will help your loved one focus on the benefits they will gain from moving to assisted living.

Start your transition to assisted living by booking a tour at a Bethesda Assisted Living community today.

The post 4 Tips for an Easy Transition to Your St. Louis Assisted Living Community first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

At many senior care communities, memory support is available and tailored to the specific needs of the residents living in those communities.

Advantages of a Memory Support Community in Assisted Living

“Mild cognitive challenges start to become more and more apparent as we age,” says Lea Ann Coates, Residency Counselor at Bethesda Hawthorne Place, an Assisted Living and Memory Support community in St. Louis. “This becomes an issue when forgetfulness starts to affect an individual’s ability to complete basic daily activities.”

When seniors move to assisted living communities, however, this worry can be resolved easily. For example, reminders from staff can be part of each resident’s care plan — something as simple as a prompt for changing clothes or a knock on the door when it is mealtime. The support could also be something much more critical to health and well-being, like complete medication management.

“Our support minimizes memory challenges for our residents and focuses on maximizing their abilities,” says Lea Ann.

However, there may be a point when memory issues become a safety concern in assisted living. Some typical red flags include:

• Residents losing their ability to find their way around the building
• Confusing day and evening hours
• Packing a bag or suitcase
• Trying to get ready to go to work
• Looking for a formerly-owned car
• Expressing the need to meet their children (who are now adults) at the school bus

“When our staff starts to document these thoughts or actions, it becomes time to assess for a move to a secure memory support neighborhood, because safety could be potentially compromised,” Lea Ann says.

Memory Support Neighborhoods in Assisted Living

A memory support neighborhood is a secure environment for residents whose memory challenges are beyond the occasional to moderate age-related forgetfulness.

In this setting, even though residents live in their own apartments, they need prompting, reminding, re-directing, and sometimes re-purposing for most of their activities of daily living. There is concern that should the resident leave the neighborhood without supervision, he or she would be unable to find their way home or may even exit the campus.

“Consistency is key in a memory support neighborhood,” says Lea Ann. “This means keeping activities, mealtimes, and personal care as close to a routine as possible. Residents become familiar with the ebb and flow of the neighborhood. This decreases the opportunity for confusion.”

Many memory support neighborhoods also tend to be home to fewer residents than their assisted living counterparts. Such is the case at Bethesda Hawthorne Place. “This means staff has more time to get to know residents, have more interaction with them, and provide more personalized attention due to their increased need for direction,” Lea Ann says.

The physical layout of the community is also important to make walking and way-finding easy. At Bethesda Hawthorne Place, the neighborhood is in the shape of a rectangle, so there are no dead-ends. That keeps residents from becoming frustrated by the need to turn around at the end of a hallway or having that hallway lead directly to an outside door that they are unable to exit.

“Increased activity provides focus and keeps the mind from repetitive thoughts that might be worrisome,” says Lea Ann.  “Our neighborhood makes it very simple for our residents to keep moving.”

Learn more about the advantages of a memory support community in Bethesda’s assisted living. Contact us today!

The post Advantages of Assisted Living Communities Offering Memory Support first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

For some, it can feel as if they’re letting down the person they love when they finally admit they need help taking care of their spouse. But the truth is, we can’t always do it all by ourselves, and enlisting the help of professionals can be more beneficial to the health and quality of life of your spouse. While it’s often a tough decision to move your husband or wife from the family home to an assisted living community, once you see how much the arrangement benefits them, you may be among many others who asked themselves “why didn’t we do this sooner?”

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living communities are an option for seniors who require additional help with activities of daily living (ADLs), but who do not need the 24-hour medical care and support found in a nursing home environment. Designed to provide a balance of independence and supervision, assisted living communities provide assistance with tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication management. Residents typically live in their own private apartments or rooms with access to common spaces where organized activities are held.

Signs it’s time to ask for help include:

• Feeling overwhelmed by or unable to tend to your day-to-day responsibilities while also meeting your spouse’s needs.
• Living in fear of your spouse falling or being injured at home.
• Being the only person able to help your spouse move around the house, get in and out of bed, or drive to and from appointments.
• Experiencing distress or daily worry about making sure your spouse is fed, clean, comfortable, and taking the proper medications.

The truth is, not only do we not have the expertise to care for someone as well as a professional can, but when our loved one has an acute health condition — or lives with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia — it can be a round-the-clock job to make sure they’re safe and comfortable. This is an unrealistic and impossible schedule for one caregiver to manage, especially when they have other responsibilities to handle, too.

Benefits of Assisted Living Include:

• Medical care and assistance personalized to the needs of your loved one
• Prepared meals, exercise classes and social time that promote a healthy lifestyle
• Safe and secure surroundings where seniors will be comfortable and confident
• An environment that offers both structure, and the ability for older adults to maintain a sense of independence
• Peace of mind not only for the spouse and other caregivers, but also for the individual in assisted living who can be confident they have the resources and support they need

So, if you’ve decided these advantages would be beneficial for your spouse, how do you go about getting started and exploring assisted living options?

Taking the First Step

Most importantly, you want to find a nice, well-maintained community staffed with caring individuals who take a true interest in the well-being of the people they serve. The best way to ensure you find the right environment for your loved one is to do your homework by researching assisted living options and visiting prospective assisted living communities. Ask lots of questions, meet as many people as possible, and explore the apartments and shared facilities. Speak with staff members and see if you can visit during a mealtime — after all, food is a key factor in helping us feel at home. By being as thorough as possible, you can be confident that you made the right decision, and you can assist your spouse in making the transition by addressing the concerns or desires that are important to them.

At Bethesda, we welcome all your questions and we’d love to have you come for a visit of our assisted living communities. You can meet our staff and see all the wonderful features and amenities we offer to ensure your spouse gets the care they need to enjoy their life to the greatest potential. Contact us to get started.

The post What to Do When Your Spouse Needs Assisted Living first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

If you live in another city and plan to travel to visit your parent but aren’t sure how to make the holidays special, consider these factors, along with a few different options to celebrate the holidays:

Consult Your Parent First

For an older adult, the holiday season can be depressing, says Amanda Lambert, co-author of Aging with Care: Your Guide to Hiring and Managing Caregivers at Home.

“Think about how your Mom may have always been the person to plan activities for the family around this time and can no longer do so,” says Lambert. “Holidays can be one more reminder of your parents’ loss of independence.”

“Ask your parent what he or she would like to do for the holidays and by doing so you give that person the opportunity to be involved in decision making,” says Lambert. “Don’t simply assume that your loved one wants you to magically transform this holiday season into a replica of past holiday gatherings.”

“Accepting that things will never be the way they once were can put less stress on everyone in the family,” says Lambert. “Be flexible. Consider starting a new and different tradition.”

Find more tips for keeping your senior loved ones engaged during holiday gatherings on Bethesda’s blog.

Create a ‘Home’ for the Holidays

Even if your mother or father can’t get out and about, you can still create a holiday setting for them.

If it’s an option, invite family members to celebrate at the home of a relative in the same city as your parents. If that’s not possible, rent an Airbnb house or apartment so you can decorate it and prepare a holiday meal, celebrating in a home-like setting. Ask your parent if he or she would like to invite a friend or two to join all of you.

Before moving your parent to a different location to celebrate, Lambert recommends considering these factors:

• Does your loved one have cognitive issues that may be exacerbated by a change of location?
• What medical issues, such as mobility problems and medications to be dispensed, need to be considered while the person is away from where they live?
• Prepare a plan in case of emergency. Find out your parent’s preferred hospital and make sure you have the primary physician’s phone number handy.
• Make sure the home you are going to is accessible. Does it have stairs your parent will struggle to climb? What about a walk-in shower? Will he or she need assistance in the bathroom?

Ways to Celebrate the Holidays with Elderly Parents at an Assisted Living Community

If your parent lives in an assisted living or skilled nursing community, and you determine that they would either become agitated or disoriented by moving to a new location for a day or two or not physically capable of going out, you can still brighten their spirits and celebrate with them. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Decorate your parent’s apartment or room with a small Christmas tree or a menorah, lights, holiday cards, and gifts. Set up a device to play holiday music.
2. Participate with your parent in activities offered at the community. Many long-term care communities make significant efforts to make the holidays special for residents and their families. For example, in 2016, The Lodge in Alameda in Alameda, Calif., held a holiday tea party, in which each dining room had a holiday theme and a musician playing an instrument such as a harp, piano or guitar. Bethesda’s senior living communities across the St. Louis area host holiday events for our residents and their families. Contact us to learn more.
3. Plan a holiday party for your parent’s friends and neighbors in the community. Depending on the size of his or her living quarters, you may be able to bring in a catered feast, holiday music, and decorations so the celebration can include friends and other residents of the community who have no holiday visitors.

“Be prepared to also embrace those people [who live in the same community] in some small way to make them part of your family,” says Joy Loverde, author of Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old? “Make everyone there your friend.” If you need more room, ask staff in advance about using a community clubhouse or another on-site meeting space.

Regardless of how you decide to celebrate your holidays with elderly parents, base your decisions on what’s best for them and is most suited to his or her physical or cognitive limitations. You’ll never be able to recreate those family holidays you enjoyed for decades. However, don’t let that stop you from being there to celebrate with someone you love. The more time you can spend with your parent, the better.

Families are busy during the holidays, and it can be tempting to shorten time spent with a loved one, says Lambert. “If anything, spend more time,” she says. “Think about how lonely it can be for someone left alone at a community during the holidays.”

Family and friends are always welcome at Bethesda’s senior living communities across the St. Louis area. Schedule a tour at a community near you to learn more.

Originally published on December 12, 2017 by Deb Hipp for Next Avenue.

© Next Avenue – 2024. All rights reserved.

The post 3 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays With Elderly Parents first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

With a bit of foresight and planning, you can help your senior loved one fill their calendar with stimulating and engaging activities to chase away any holiday blues and restore some of that cheerful holiday spirit. And there’s no better time to start than this Thanksgiving!

These Thanksgiving crafts for seniors are not only something to do for entertainment; they provide a broad range of mental and physical health benefits to improve and maintain seniors’ cognitive abilities, memory, and dexterity and physical strength.

Benefits of crafting for senior citizens:

• Reduces stress and anxiety levels.
• Improves self-confidence and gives a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
• Maintains or improves dexterity and flexibility in the hands, especially for seniors suffering from joint pain or arthritis.
• Keeps seniors’ minds sharp and engaged, which can help support moments of clarity or create a calm environment for seniors living with dementia.
• Improves communication, which can relieve their burdens, form important connections with the people they love, and help you better understand their needs.

When crafting with your older loved one, focus on the sort of things they like to do and they’ll be eager to participate, especially if they can make something to brighten up their living space or give to others as a gift.

Find inspiration for crafts in the changing colors of the fall leaves, or bright and colorful holiday light displays. There is no limit to what you can create.

Holiday crafts can be worked on any time of day, in a community space, in a group setting or in the privacy of their own room. All they need is some inspiration and a few supplies.

Try these Thanksgiving crafts for seniors:

Photo albums and scrapbooks

What better way to start a trip down memory lane than to get out your photo collection! Organizing pictures into photo albums isn’t only a constructive activity to help our senior loved ones pass the time, it’s a great excuse to open up that old box of photos and recall fond memories from family events of the past.

You can create specific photo albums for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s. To make the activity more interactive, create a scrapbook with the photos, and help your loved one cut out holiday-related shapes to glue onto the pages along with stickers, ribbon, stamps, or fun photo captions.

Another bonus — the photo albums and scrapbooks will always be there, so they can look at them whenever they need a pick-me-up.

Fall wreaths

For many, the first official act of the holiday season is putting a festive wreath on their front door. Wreaths can be made of a variety of materials, ranging from dyed autumn leaves to pages cut from old books. Try one of these senior-friendly DIY wreaths made out of holiday fabric or cardboard and rubber bands! You can also purchase wreath kits from your local craft store that include everything you need to make a beautiful holiday wreath.

Leaf bowls

You’ll need a couple of specialty supplies for this leaf bowl craft. First, a large balloon, brush on fabric stiffener, and some artificial fall leaves that you can find in your local craft store. Place the inflated balloon in a bowl. Paint both sides of the leaves with the fabric stiffener and press them onto the balloon in layers to cover the entire surface. Let it dry completely, then deflate the balloon, leaving a festive bowl made of autumn leaves.

Handmade cards

Writing letters and cards by hand is a throwback tradition that remains popular among older generations. These holiday card crafts can be made with cardstock and a variety of other materials that your senior may already have! They are sure to enjoy making touching cards to share the holiday spirit with their family and friends.

Centerpieces

A fantastic way to bring the holiday spirit to your home is a festive centerpiece. Here’s one idea: Cover several dried corn cobs with metallic gold and copper paint. After the paint has dried, glue the cobs vertically to the side of a cylindrical vase. Place gold raffia or holiday themed ribbon around the cobs and fill the inside with floral foam to hold seasonal flowers or your senior’s favorite blooms.

Create new traditions with more holiday tips on our Caregiver Tips blog!

The post 5 Thanksgiving Crafts for Seniors in Assisted Living first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Fortunately, moving into a senior living community, like those that Bethesda Health Group offers, gives older adults ample opportunities to make new friends and create an active and rewarding lifestyle. While living alone in a big house can result in isolation and loneliness, being among their peers is sure to make anyone, especially seniors, feel much more connected to the world around them.

Here are some surefire ways to make new friends at Bethesda:

Eat restaurant-style meals in the dining area

Bethesda takes a lot of pride in offering exceptional meal options in a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. While you’re welcome to eat in your own private apartment, venturing to the dining room for a nice meal provides the opportunity to socialize with fellow residents. After all, meal time is the perfect time to sit with others and make casual conversation, especially when it takes place only steps away from your front door.

Attend exercise classes or participate in a wellness program

With a wide variety of activities available at senior living communities, you’re sure to find something appealing to you. Join group exercise classes, take advantage of fitness equipment, or take a walk around the campus with fellow residents. After all, finding a workout buddy or two (or more) will make exercising fun!

Participate in group outings

Bethesda arranges regular outings for its residents, so all you have to do is show up! Go shopping, see a show or explore a local community event. The possibilities are endless!

Take advantage of the available amenities

Watch a performance by music and entertainment acts brought in to the community, have a good time at a happy hour celebration, attend a birthday party for one of your fellow residents, take an informative class or indulge your creative side at an art project gathering.

Don’t be a stranger to community areas

Although Bethesda prioritizes privacy for its residents, beautiful community areas are there for you to enjoy when you’re feeling sociable. Our common areas often host lots of card games, as well as residents gathering to watch movies or sporting events in a group setting.

Making Friends at Any Age

Now that you know what your options are, take advantage of them! Introduce yourself to others and sit with new people at meal times or activities. If they’ve been at Bethesda longer than you, ask them what their favorite events are so you can plan to be there, too. Attend as many different activities as you can to meet your fellow residents. Don’t sit in your apartment and wait for others to knock on your door. Go where the people are, contribute to the conversation and try new things. While some seniors are apprehensive about the idea of moving to a senior living community, once they’re there, they often have only one question: “Why did I wait so long?”

Learn more about how you can become an active member of a Bethesda community by visiting our website or set up a tour of one of our senior living communities to find the right fit for you. For more ways to stay connected to others in senior living communities, visit Bethesda’s blog.

The post Seniors Meeting Seniors: Tips on Making Friends at Your Bethesda Senior Living Community first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

But don’t fret – we have some helpful hints for you to follow after you have moved in. Meeting new people and making new friends may seem like the solution for not being lonely, but it’s more than that. Socializing with others has been shown to relieve stress and help lower the risk of developing dementia and other health conditions. It also can help older adults achieve a sense of community and belonging.

To make new friends at a St. Louis assisted living community, try following some of these tips:

• Sign up for activities
• Engage in conversation
• Frequent common areas

SIGN UP FOR ACTIVITIES

Assisted living communities offer a myriad of activities and social events designed to keep the community members active and social. Engaging in these activities is a good way to get to know your neighbors. The community staff will organize games, shopping trips and other outdoor visits, arts and crafts, and numerous other activities. These activities provide plenty of opportunities to learn about your fellow residents and form new friendships.

ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION

Initiating a conversation is one way to get to know your fellow community members at your St. Louis assisted living community. Don’t assume that others will come to you. Often, the other person is thinking the same thing! Instead, approach others directly and introduce yourself. You can even invite them to join you at your table for lunch or an activity.

RELAX IN COMMON AREAS INSTEAD OF YOUR ROOM

You won’t meet anyone if you never leave your apartment. Spending time in common areas will allow you to meet those with whom you may not have ordinarily crossed paths. Even the simple act of sitting at a new table during dinner can introduce you to a new friend.

Another idea is to take walks around your St. Louis assisted living community. Not only will walking give you exercise, it is a good way to meet other community members who may live in a different part of the building. Engage in conversations along the way and meet everyone with a friendly greeting.

By implementing these ideas, meeting new senior friends at your St. Louis assisted living community will come much more naturally and you’ll be forming strong bonds with those around you in no time!

Interested in learning more about Bethesda’s assisted living communities? Contact us today to schedule a tour!

The post Making Friends at Your Assisted Living Community first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Where to Start?

First, take a look at the community’s activity calendar and see what interests your parents. Normally, most resident activities can be attended by friends and family. Check with the community’s staff to know which activities are open to family members.

Often seniors tend to be social and engaged more consistently when family members participate. And adult children can look for times of less activity on the calendars if they want to have more individual time with their parents.

Looking for Ideas?

Some of the many activities offered at assisted living communities include:

• Crafts
• Exercise classes
• Games
• Music sessions
• Movie nights
• Painting classes

Visitors should talk with the staff about how they can contribute to activities for seniors in assisted living as well. It can be fun for visitors to share something they enjoy, or have a talent for, with residents.

Some examples of family member contribution at Bethesda Hawthorne Place, an assisted living community in St. Louis, have included a family member playing the piano for residents three days a week, a visitor leading a gardening class, and a granddaughter providing a wide variety of cookie cutters for a baking class.

In addition to participating in activities, visitors can dine with their senior loved ones, take a walk around the grounds, and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions in the privacy of a community room. Just call the staff ahead of time to make a reservation.

Special observances occur throughout the year, and visitors are welcome on some of the regular outings enjoyed by the residents.

Other activities family and residents can enjoy together include enjoying a visit to a local park, getting together with friends, attending church, catching a movie or just taking a drive.

In your loved one’s apartment, family members can view a photo album, play games, watch videos, listen to music, and have the grandchildren come for a visit!

What are the Benefits?

Regular visits from family improve seniors’ outlook on life, their participation in activities, and their health. It also helps them connect with other residents, with whom they are excited to share family news and milestones.

How many other ways can adult children and their senior loved ones connect with each other in an assisted living community? The key is time. The more time you spend with your loved one at their community, the closer you will be and the more activities you will find for everyone to enjoy.

If you or your senior loved one is interested in assisted living, schedule a tour at a Bethesda community near you. These communities offer an engaging lifestyle for seniors, with plenty of opportunities for family and friends to visit.

The post Assisted Living Activities for Your Next Visit with Your Parents first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

A top priority of assisted living communities is maintaining dignity, respect and independence of older adults. Assisted living residents have as much independence as they want, along with the comfort of knowing that personal care and support services such as meal preparation, medication management, bathing, dressing and transportation are available for them.

Who Benefits Most from Assisted Living?

An assisted living community is ideal for older adults who have had a slight decline in health and need assistance performing one or more activities of daily living (ADLs) but do not need 24/7 medical care and supervision of a nursing home. In addition, assisted living is a great option for seniors who want to live in a socially enriched environment with little responsibilities and in a place where care is easily accessible.

Types of services include but are not limited to…

• Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and grooming
• Daily Meals
• Basic Housekeeping and laundry
• 24-hour staffing and security
• Exercise and wellness facilities
• Emergency call systems
• Medication management
• Access to health and medical services
• Social and recreational activities
• Transportation

Cost of Assisted Living

The cost of assisted living varies depending on the following factors:

• Type of residence
• Size of apartment (studio, one or two-bedroom apartment)
• Types of services needed
• Geographical location of the community

Most communities charge a basic month-to-month rate; however, there are also long-term options available. Typically, base rates cover room and board and daily meals. Some communities will charge an entrance fee, deposit and laundry, and housekeeping fees. It’s important to ask each community about their costs and services because fees vary by community.

Learn more about Bethesda’s assisted living communities and the services offered on our website!

The post What Is Assisted Living? first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

• Fear of new surroundings. Our home is our sanctuary — the place where we feel the most comfortable. When you’ve lived in a house for several years or even decades, you could probably navigate your entire home wearing a blindfold. You know where every squeak in the floor is located and the decorations and layout are exactly the way you like them.
• Sentimental value. Your home is filled with the memories of a lifetime that make it a special place. Think about it — when you sit in the family room, don’t you think back to when your children or grandkids were young, excitedly opening their presents on Christmas morning?
• Worrying about the future. Some people view that moving a senior out of their home for additional care and services as the “beginning of the end” — an admission that your senior loved one’s health or cognitive function is in decline and they are unable to take care of themselves anymore. Many caregivers blame themselves, thinking that if they worked harder or prioritized differently, maybe their senior loved one wouldn’t have to make such a “drastic move.”

For all these reasons and more, your elderly loved one may protest the move. They might accuse you of thinking they are a burden or of trying to avoid responsibility for them. Emotionally, it can be a lot to take. Still, you know deep down inside that it’s the right thing to do.

So, how do you move forward?

First, it’s important to remember that moving your elderly parent into an assisted living or skilled nursing environment doesn’t have to be perceived negatively. You’re not moving Mom or Dad as a punishment or out of convenience; rather, you’re doing it for their safety and well-being. Knowing that they’re going to be eating well, taking their medication as prescribed and on time,  and not worrying about home maintenance or falling victim to financial scams against seniors should at least somewhat ease your mind and any caregiver guilt.

In their new location, Mom or Dad will meet people their own age with whom they have things in common, which is preferable to sitting in their empty house hoping someone will come visit them. Many senior living communities host social events that give your senior loved ones plenty to look forward to. And family is welcome to visit as frequently as desired.

Second, it’s important to be able to get the help you need to take care of a senior loved one. After all, if you get sick or are unable to do your job, who will take care of them? We must respect our physical and mental limits in order to take care of our most important responsibilities. We can’t surrender to guilt. Instead, we must learn how to navigate it effectively.

Tips for dealing with caregiver guilt:

• Don’t keep it bottled up inside you. Talk about it and acknowledge it. Once you take on the problem, then you’re better equipped to handle it.
• Stop expecting perfection. No one can do everything by themselves. We need rest and a mental break. Don’t beat yourself up for the things you can’t do, instead focus on the things you’re good at and the ones you have accomplished. Stay focused on the main goal of making sure your senior loved one has the best quality of life possible. Celebrate the good times and the decisions that work out and, most importantly, accept that you’re doing the best you can!
• Ask for help. Maybe it’s asking your siblings or your kids to pitch in and help. Or, possibly, it’s just asking your spouse or a friend to lend an ear and let you vent about what’s on your mind. Either way, you shouldn’t feel obligated to take on all the work by yourself. Often, people don’t realize what you’re going through if you don’t let them in on it. Plus, it helps us feel better about our decisions when we run them past people whose opinions we value.
• Think of yourself. Make time for the things you enjoy and give yourself a break. It’s important to clear your mind to make sure you don’t get burned out so you can continue to be a person your senior parent can depend upon.

The bright side about caregiver guilt is that it’s temporary. Many seniors become comfortable with their new surroundings quickly and – whether or not they admit it – begin to enjoy the freedom from responsibility and the social opportunities that come with the change. While things might seem like they’re turned upside down now, it won’t be long before the tough time passes, and you’ll realize you did the right thing.

As you transition your senior loved one to best suit their needs, contact Bethesda for more information on senior living communities.

The post How to Navigate Caregiver Guilt When Moving Your Elderly Parent first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.