Assisted living is a great option for those elders who may struggle to live on their own, but who don’t require constant care and supervision. An ideal move for those who also want to maintain some independence and dignity, it’s a decision which needs to be handled delicately. Of course, when first moving to assisted living, you may feel uprooted from your home, and what is considered to be a ‘normal’ way of life. Therefore, some provisions should be put in place to make this transition as seamless as possible.
Assisted living does not have to represent a huge shift in lifestyle, and in fact, there are things you can do to make the change feel less drastic and make your new place of residence feel more homely. With that in mind, here are 4 ways to make an assisted living facility feel like home.
USE FAMILIAR FURNITURE PIECES
A new extra-care housing resident doesn’t have to throw out all the belongings that they’ve built up over a lifetime just because they’re moving. In fact, one of the best ways to get comfortable in such spaces is to bring along some of their favourite furniture pieces with them. Items like chairs, coffee tables and dressers can all be used to make the room feel more familiar to the new resident.
Be sure to consider the finer details as well, such as bed placement, to make it mimic what the new resident is used to and comfortable with, as accurately as possible, as this can really aid with the settling in process. If a new resident is unable to bring any of their own furniture, there are many great facilities that already come with homely and fashionable rooms, perfect for a warm welcome. The experts at signature-care-homes.co.uk suggest ‘’welcoming gifts flowers and personalised arrangements for any occasions’’ can help further in making that transition particularly special.
USE BLANKETS, BEDDING AND THROWS TO MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE
Getting some nice bedding can be a great way to make the accommodation much more comfortable and cosy, especially if you use the resident’s favourite colours, patterns and thread count. Some of the best hues to channel include both green and orange as these promote feelings of calmness and brain activity, which can be of benefit to new residents. These are great ways to add personality to a new living space, and simple touches such as this can really help make them feel settled.
CONSIDER MUSIC
There is nothing more welcoming than being able to fill your home with your favourite songs and melodies. Indeed, studies have suggested that patients suffering from Alzheimer’s or early onset Dementia gain great emotional and behavioural benefit from hearing their favourite music. Helping a resident to access music through radio, a CD player or even vinyl is a great way to help them get more comfortable with their surroundings.
Furthermore, music helps reduce feelings of anxiety, which can be really beneficial during such a seismic transition and can also help dementia sufferers recall more memories that may be more associated with the songs. Lovely stuff.
DISPLAY ARTWORK AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Most assisted residencies have more than enough wall space for residents to put up some of their favourite artwork, with tastes and pieces accrued over a rich and varied life. Doing so can really help make the room feel less bare and more homely. Photographs of family, pets and other loved ones can help create an immediate sense of familiarity and can also spark some fond memories which can help improve mood, making residents more agreeable to the change.
If the wall space is at a premium, another great option is to compile photo albums as these are much easier to store, and also gives residents the opportunity to present these to carers or other residents which allows them to introduce themselves and integrate among the community better.
