How to talk to a loved one about receiving aged care support!
Moving a loved one into an aged care home is not a decision to be taken lightly. Indeed, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in both of your lives. Growing old is something that we all must face. When the time comes your loved one can no longer live in their own home even with support, it’s important to be tactful as well as honest in your approach to discussing a move into an aged care home.
Remaining positive is the best bit of advice when having these sometimes difficult conversations. Moving from living in your own home to living in an aged care home can be confronting. It’s a time of significant change and potentially significant stress. Not only for the new resident, but also for their family. You know yourself how hard it can be to adjust to a new workplace, neighbourhood, or social group. Place yourself in your loved one’s shoes and imagine how they must feel. Maybe they are experiencing a loss of independence. Or they might consider themselves a burden. Possibly, they could also be feeling a sense of rejection or that the idea of living in an aged care home isn’t required.
Yes, moving a loved one into an aged care home can be a difficult journey to navigate. Therefore, to make this smoother, we have outlined the 5 most important things you should discuss with your loved one about aged care support.
1. Their wishes and choices will be respected, and they will receive the very best care
Making choices and maintaining a sense of agency during the process of moving into an aged care home is important for new residents. The research reveals that giving residents choice leads to better outcomes overall in the long run.
2. They will get to socialise with a new group of people
Ensure your loved one that there will be a group of similar people to them who will be ready, willing, and able to welcome them into the fold. Many residential aged care facilities provide day programs. These provide a perfect opportunity for your loved one to get to know new friends and participate in fun social experiences.
3. Your loved one will get to experience a whole new range of opportunities and experiences
A visit to the shops. Getting their hands dirty in the garden. Joining in with an exercise group. These are just some of the enriching opportunities and experiences your loved can expect when they make the move to full-time residential care
4. You will visit often
Assure your loved one that they are not moving out of your life, but more so moving on with their life in a safe and supportive nursing home that can best cater to their unique needs. Marking on a calendar the dates of your regular visits is a great way to offset possible feelings of despondency.
5. The staff have their best interests at heart
It’s always a good idea to have your elderly loved one accompany you on any tours of the facility you do before they move in. Get them to meet the staff and see how they treat other residents. This will help to put any concerns they have to rest about whether they’ll simply be treated like a number.
Final thoughts
Moving into an aged care home can be stressful. There is a lot to consider, from the level and style of care to the unique needs of your loved one. That’s why Olivet Care is there for you and your loved one every step of the way. They offer a range of aged care services, each designed to provide genuine support on a personal level that truly makes an impact on the lives of their residents. Get in touch with one of the friendly teams at Olivet Care to discuss your loved one’s unique aged care needs today.
