Moving a parent with dementia into a senior care community can be emotionally stressful for everyone involved. However, by supporting your parent through this change, you can create a sense of stability for you both. This guide offers tips and suggestions to ensure your parent with dementia feels comforted, understood, and cherished in their new home in senior care.

Make visits calming and meaningful

Regular visits provide reassurance, connection, and a sense of continuity. Creating calming and meaningful visits can make these moments even more special. Here are some strategies to help you make the most of your time together:

• Reminisce with photos and keepsakes: Familiar objects can spark memories and encourage conversation. During this special time, share stories, ask questions, and listen to their recollections.
• Listen to favorite music: Music has a powerful ability to stimulate memories, evoke emotions, and create joy. Create a playlist of your loved one’s favorite songs and listen together during your visit.
• Accompany them to scheduled activities and meals: Participate in community events with your parent to encourage engagement and help you observe how they’re adjusting. Participating in these activities together can help them feel more at ease and supported in their new surroundings.
• Create a calming environment: Soft lighting, quiet surroundings, familiar snacks, or a favorite blanket can help ease anxiety and confusion.

Communicate with care staff

Open and honest communication with the facility’s staff not only helps you stay informed about your loved one’s well-being but also empowers you to advocate effectively for their needs. Here are some tips to foster trust and maintain open communication with the care staff:

• Ask the right questions: Asking thoughtful questions about your loved one’s daily routines, any changes in behavior, and how they are adjusting to the community can help you identify any concerns early and work collaboratively with the staff to address them. Consider asking questions like:
  • How is my mom doing with her meals and activities? Does she talk with other residents or staff?
  • Have you noticed any changes in behavior?
  • Is my dad sleeping well?
• Set a communication schedule: Set up a routine that works for both you and the staff, whether it’s weekly phone calls, monthly meetings, or email updates.
• Be an advocate for your loved one: Share their likes, dislikes, and any specific needs with the staff. If you notice any changes or have concerns, don’t hesitate to discuss them with the care team.

Maintain an emotional connection with your parent with dementia

After your parent moves into a senior community, maintaining a strong emotional connection can be powerful. Your familiar presence can ease the anxiety and discomfort that often accompany a move to senior care, especially for a parent with dementia.

Here are some ways to maintain an emotional connection with your parent:

• Embrace nonverbal communication: Simple gestures like holding hands, a soothing touch on the arm or leg, a warm hug, or maintaining eye contact can convey love and reassurance. 
• Engage in sensory activities: Massaging their hands with scented lotion, listening to soothing music, or sharing a favorite snack can create comfort and connection with your loved one.
• Make a memory book: Include photos, mementos, and written stories. Spend time looking through the book together and sharing cherished moments.
• Schedule regular family video calls: Assisting your loved one with video calls can bridge the distance with family and allow your parent to see familiar faces and hear comforting voices. 

Personalize their new space to feel like home

When your parent with dementia moves into senior care, creating a space that feels like home can be stabilizing and comforting and help them adjust more easily to their new surroundings.

Here are some suggestions to personalize their new living space:

• Decorate with personal touches, like family photos, cherished mementos, artwork that holds special meaning, or religious items if appropriate.
• Bring tools for their favorite hobbies, such as books, crafting supplies, puzzle books, playing cards, and games.
• Create a cozy atmosphere with soft lighting, comfortable bedding, soothing colors, and soft throw blankets.
• Integrate furnishings from home, like familiar bedding and towels from home, a favorite recliner (if the facility allows it), and decorative items such as throw pillows.

Helping your parent with dementia in the transition to senior care

By offering support to your parent with dementia during the transition to senior care, you provide invaluable comfort and stability. With the ideas in this article, you can facilitate a smoother transition, ensuring your parent feels comforted and cherished, which helps to create a more successful adjustment for the entire family.