Assisted Living Mobile AL
Everyone is different, so you can’t expect one aging senior who quickly adjusts to their new assisted living environment to be representative of all seniors. Instead of days, some might take weeks or even months before they are fully acclimated. They may keep fighting their loved ones, themselves, or even the staff because they just don’t want to be there.
Why Would They Go if They Don’t Want To?
They may not feel as though they have other options. Some seniors feel forced by loved ones, their adult children, spouse, or even their circumstances. For example, there might be an elderly senior who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia and their symptoms have advanced to such a degree that is difficult for loved ones to continue supporting them. Memory care assisted living is a great option for those dealing with dementia, but that doesn’t mean the senior is fully onboard with it.
Other seniors may feel as though they would rather be home, but it gets lonely. There’s no one to talk to, no one to do anything with, and they begrudgingly recognized that a move was in the cards no matter what they did.
Remember, It’s Always Their Choice
Even though adult children, a spouse, siblings, and other family members or friends may understand and realize the value of assisted living for them and their future, some seniors may be reluctant. They have that right to decide where they live.
In reality, though, there are a number of elder care options available, but assisted living is one of the best because it allows seniors to build friendships with others their own age, share common interests, pursue activities or rest, and essentially maximize the quality of life in a comfortable environment.
How Long Will it Take to Adjust?
Since everyone is different, there is no right or wrong answer to this. Somebody might adjust within a matter of hours. Others might take weeks. The key is to allow the senior to take whatever time he or she needs to make the adjustment to this new elder care lifestyle.
Avoid the temptation of stopping by or calling too often. Some seniors will end up waiting by the phone instead of getting out to explore what the community has to offer. They may expect their family to stop by every day and, instead of going out to an art show, a gallery, museum, to the park, or local mall, for example, with many other residents, they might just stay in their room. They can miss so much of life by doing that.
If the aging senior, like your elderly mother or father, is crying in the phone, saying they want to go home, they’re homesick, just like you when you were a child going off to camp for the first time, remember, that homesickness does pass. It can be intense for the first days or a few weeks, but just keep gently encouraging them and you’ll notice a change begin to take place as they embrace this new high quality lifestyle for their future.
About Cindy Johnson
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