How Long Might It Take an Aging Senior to Adjust to Assisted Living?

July 3, 2018 by ·

There are numerous questions people have about assisted living. One of the common questions family members may contemplate, especially if they are wondering whether this is the right thing to talk about with their aging mother or father, is how long it might take them to adjust.

Assisted Living in Spanish Fort AL: Adjusting to Assisted Living

Assisted Living in Spanish Fort AL: Adjusting to Assisted Living

For some people, adjustment is almost instantaneous.

Some people are more outgoing, more confident, and even look forward to the opportunity to make new friends, take part in various activities, and enjoy the new atmosphere that may be completely different than where they were living for many years.

Other people might have difficulty becoming comfortable in a new living environment. There are numerous factors that will come into play, and if an aging senior is not quite comfortable or doesn’t seem to be making a positive adjustment within the first week or two, remember it can take a bit longer than that.

Everyone is different.

This may seem oversimplified, but it’s true. As mentioned, there are going to be elderly men and women who make a quick and sudden transition and seem as though they’re completely comfortable in this new living environment while somebody else may struggle, call their loved ones repeatedly throughout the day and beg to go back home.

Give this some time.

If it’s only been a couple of weeks, give it more time. The longer a person was living in the same house, the more challenging it may be to let that go and feel comfortable in a new environment. The shyer a person is, the more difficulty they have meeting new people and getting themselves ‘out there,’ the longer it may take this person to become comfortable in this new living environment.

Speak to the staff at the assisted living facility.

There will be numerous staff members at this assisted living facility, many of whom have a great deal of experience helping elderly residents make the adjustment and become comfortable in their new environment. Let them know what’s going on, have an honest conversation with some of the staff members, and help them understand the preferences, peccadilloes, and personality of this new resident in their midst.

It can be tempting and far too easy to give in and assume this isn’t going to work out because an aging parent is having difficulty adjusting, but it could take a month or two for some people to make this adjustment. And that’s okay.

If you or an aging loved one are considering assisted living in Spanish Fort, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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