How to Move Into Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities offer elderly individuals a place to combine senior-friendly amenities with on-site health care services. These facilities offer group and individual activities, fitness facilities, group and individual housing and on-site medical staff to assist with management of new and ongoing medical conditions. While assisted living is somewhat expensive in terms of living expenses, it is optimal for those seniors who want to maintain some semblance of independence. However, moving into assisted living takes some careful planning and preparation to make the process as seamless as possible.
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Instructions
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Research the best facility for your particular needs. Assisted living communities offer varying amenities. Some have planned activities every day of the week, others simply offer access to community events if residents want to partake of such opportunities. Make sure the facility of your choice is a good fit for your particular level of independence.
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Solicit prices for assisted living facilities to ensure you can afford the price tag. Assisted living facilities make no bones about the fact that they are indeed expensive. The high cost is incurred because of the expense involved in hiring trained staff for the facility, as well as equipping each individual living area to be elder ready. When you solicit prices, find out whether they are set or if they may rise throughout the duration of your stay. The last thing you want is to get settled and then have to move because you can no longer afford to stay.
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Choose a facility, set a move-in date and find family and/or friends to help you move your stuff. The more organized you are ahead of the big move, the more smoothly the transition will be. Once you have signed all of the necessary paperwork for your facility of choice, and determined your move-in date, you can either find people to help you move or hire a professional moving company to take all of the hassle out of moving.
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Bring only your most cherished items along. Because your living space in the assisted living facility, even if you have a large apartment or smaller home, is likely to be too small to hold all the items you've collected through the years, you may need to pare down. Conversely, it is important that the facility feels like "home" to you, so bring those items --- be it decor, furnishings or whatever --- that you cherish the most.
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Get settled and start meeting new people. Once you've gotten settled in your new space and arranged your living quarters in just the right way, get out and start getting involved in some of the activities offered by the facility. Don't be afraid to approach strangers on the property and strike up a conversation; you might be making lifelong friends. Take classes, learn a new skill and ingratiate yourself into the assisted living community.
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