Supportive living is a good option for many seniors because it allows them to get extra care without being in a nursing home. However, moving away from home and into a supportive living facility can be a big change for your loved one. After living in the same home for so many years, your loved one probably isn't going to feel at home in the new unit at first. However, there are a few ways that you can make it feel a little more like home.
1. Bring in Throw Blankets and Pillows
Many assisted living facilities will not allow you to bring in your own comforter or sheets. This is because doing so makes doing laundry a lot more of a hassle for staff members. However, you can often bring in throw blankets and throw pillows, which can allow you to give your loved one's bed a more comfortable and home-like experience. Consider bringing favorites from home or swapping them out for the seasons or holidays.
2. Hang Up Pictures
In your loved one's home, he or she probably had pictures of family members and other favorite wall decorations everywhere. This can make the sterile walls in an assisted living facility look really bare. Although you probably won't have room to hang up all of the things that your loved one had up in his or her home, you can bring a few favorites to decorate the walls. You can also swap things out with new photographs of family members or new artwork from grandchildren or other younger loved ones.
3. Add Plants
Adding a touch of greenery to your loved one's new unit is a great way to make him or her feel good. This is especially true if your loved one once had a big yard and now doesn't have one. A window box is a great place for planting herbs, and a few potted plants and flowers can be placed all over the house. Look for plants that are easy to care for and that don't require a lot of maintenance; this is especially important if your loved one moved into supportive living so that he or she wouldn't have so much home maintenance.
If your loved one isn't looking forward to moving into a supportive living unit, it's a good idea to do what you can to make the unit more comfortable and homey. Following these three tips can make a big difference. For more information, talk to a professional like GENACTA Home Care.
