Moving a Senior

Many retirement communities use creative techniques to help residents make friends, settle into a routine and feel comfortable in their new home.

After moving to senior living, family caregivers are often surprised to find their once-social parents refusing to participate in activities and isolating themselves from other residents. Here are some ways to help ease the transition into senior housing.

For many seniors, moving to a nursing home can lead to depression. Family caregivers can help their loved ones integrate into their new environment by using a few simple strategies to keep their spirits up during the transition to senior housing.

Caregivers should ask assisted living facilities about their levels of care, medication management, activities, and accommodating special diets.

Most seniors don’t want to give up their homes, where they are comfortable and surrounded by their belongings. But, there are ways to furnish and decorate an assisted living apartment to make it feel homey.

It can take a few weeks for a new resident to adapt to their surroundings, meet neighbors and staff, and personalize their living space. Use these strategies both before and after the big move to make sure this transition goes smoothly for everyone.

Many adult children are faced with the prospect of selling their parents’ homes to pay for their care. This may make sense financially but can be legally complex. Here’s what a caregiver should know before trying to sell their aging parent's home.

Although it’s common for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to occasionally become agitated, angry or aggressive, redirection techniques are an effective method of managing these difficult behaviors.

It's heartbreaking to hear a loved one say, “I want to go home,” regardless of whether they’re already in their own house or now living in a senior living facility. How can family caregivers help calm and comfort them without giving them false hope?

Whether your loved one goes into an assisted living facility willingly or needs some encouragement, adjusting can be a challenge. Work as a team with your family and the staff to promote a smooth and comfortable move.

Moving your elderly parent into an assisted living facility is never easy, but it can be made less painful for caregivers, family and most importantly, the elder.

Taking the time to research assisted living facilities before talking with resistant elders will help you understand the options and ensure the discussion goes smoothly.

Although many seniors will remodel their homes so that they can "age in place," others move to a smaller place in an active adult community, assisted living, or some other form of senior housing. The problem: At least for smaller urban homes and apartments, there will be a lot of competition.

Empty nesters and seniors need different types of housing as they get older. Will economics allow you to sell your current home for a price that allows you to find another home that better suits your needs?