Transitioning Parents to Retirement Communities

Shared blog post from Westminster Village Muncie

As part of the Marketing Team at Westminster Village Muncie, our goal is to help families navigate the process of moving their parents into a Retirement or Assisted Living Community. Many times we are asked, “when is the right time” or, the big question, “where do we begin?”

Where do you begin?

Go shopping! Check out all the retirement communities in your city and really see which one would be the best fit. Touring through the facility is the best way to really see how the residents are living. It is a good idea to go visiting before you need to make the move and when you aren’t in a panic. Don’t wait until it is an emergency and you have to make a snap decision. Being prepared is always the best policy.

A good Marketing Team will walk you through the process, give you prices, and answer all your questions. They are there to simplify as much as possible for the families and prospective residents.

When Should Parents Move to Assisted Living?

Each person will move to a community for a different reason. Many times, the parent has health issues and simply can’t live at home anymore. They might be falling or forgetting to eat. Those that have lost spouses become lonely and would like to have a social life again. Whatever the reason, make sure the community you choose has the nursing staff and amenities to help the new resident feel right at home.

Can you “try it out” first?

Ask the Marketing person if you can have lunch. A community should invite prospective residents and family members to come enjoy a complimentary lunch to sample the food. Eating is a big part of the resident’s day, so hopefully they will like the food.

Does the community you are looking at offer a trial period? Some communities offer a trial period, encouraging prospective residents to move into a furnished apartment and all they have to do is pack a bag. Three or four months is the perfect amount of time to see if the community will suit your family member.

The community you are looking at should be making the move-in transition as easy and smooth as possible. Yes, there might be hiccups along the way and leaving the home your family has lived in for many years is hard and it may be difficult to downsize. We understand that and see it every day. For many, the move to a community is easy but for others, it takes a while to settle in. A great community and staff will do their best to make the transition easy.

To learn more about Westminster Village Muncie, see their FindContinuingCare.com listing.