6 November 2024
Making The Move To Aged Care. A Guide For Carers.
Moving to residential aged care is one of life’s big transitions. The right support and a bit of forward planning can help make your loved one’s journey a little easier.
In this guide, we’ll talk about some of the things to consider throughout the process, what to expect and steps you can take to prepare.
Before moving
- Involve your loved one in the decision-making process at all stages.
- Discuss your loved one’s preferences regarding Enduring Power of Attorney and discuss Advance Care Planning. These conversations can sometimes be confronting but can make such a difference.
- Recognise there will be a time of grief and loss due to the big change – name it and normalise these feelings.
- Talk about meaningful belongings and encourage your loved one to choose what to keep and what to donate, sell, give to family members etc.
- Prepare questions to ask the service, so you can find out everything you need to know up front. This could include talking about meal times, clinical concerns, typical day structure, laundry, privacy and anything else that is important to your loved one.
During moving
- Be open and honest with your loved one regarding the plan for the move and the permanency of the move (whether short term or long term stay).
- As a family, discuss responsibilities and plan schedule for visiting.
- Take your loved one on a tour through the facility many times over the first few weeks. They may be more comfortable with you and may not explore by themselves.
- Share the routine of the aged care site with your loved one. Utilise a diary or calendar to inform of your planned visits and upcoming events. Involve your loved one in making decisions about their routine as much as possible.
Once moved in
- Continue to meet staff and introduce them to loved ones – it is highly likely that staff members will change during your loved one’s stay.
- Personalise their room. Make it homely.
- Assist your loved one to find other residents with similar interests to them.
- Support your loved one to go on outings as much as possible – to family events, shops / cafes or other places that they enjoy.
- Provide a phone or iPad to engage in phone calls and video call to keep connected. Studies have shown that the greater the presence of a resident’s family increases the likelihood of receiving consistently good care.
- Give your loved one time to settle in.
Things to consider
Before moving
- Try not to make promises you’re not sure if you can keep, such as ‘you’ll never have to leave home’. Instead, make statements such as ‘I’ll do all I reasonably can to help you stay at home’ or ‘No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you.’
- Try to be upfront and truthful, even if it is a difficult conversation. This includes explaining it is a permanent move and not just respite.
- Avoid ‘helping’ your loved ones by distributing their items on their behalf without discussing it with them.
During moving
- Try to listen to and acknowledge emotions and experiences so that your loved one feels heard and validated. Statements such as ‘you’ll be fine’ or ‘it’s no big deal’ can sometimes feel dismissive.
- Do not take things personally if they express difficult emotions.
Once moved in
- It’s unlikely your loved one will suddenly be more social than they were previously. Encourage engagement but respect their preferences.
- Try to involve your loved one in family outings and events as much as possible, even though it may be a bit harder to manage logistics at times.
As Mental health professionals we put the wellbeing of our residents at the heart of all we do and regularly support individuals and families through this life change. We hope that this information will help support your loved one during the transition to their new home.
To find out more about Lutheran Services Aged Care, click here or call our friendly team on 1800 960 433.
Aged Care