Moving a loved one to a retirement community is always tough. It is likely the last option you have considered and one of the hardest decisions you’ll make in your life. Feelings of guilt, loneliness and helplessness often arise from such a situation and those sentiments only grow stronger if they’re a close family member.
It’s important to know you’re not the only one who is having a hard time with this choice. Many of us who are our loved ones’ caregivers feel guilty and struggle with finding our resolve. In times like this, it’s important to trust your judgment and reaffirm that you only want the best for your family member.
Choose the Best Option for Your Loved One
A lot of the time, it’s not always possible for us to give the amount and quality of care our loved ones need. This is doubly true if you are working and caring for your loved ones at the same time. Over time, you may find yourself feeling burned out. For loved ones who need professional care or assistance with activities of daily living, Assisted Living might be the best option for them.
In retirement communities, your loved one will be under the care of trained professionals and have access to senior living amenities. By moving them to a retirement community, you’ll be able to provide your family member with better care services.
Give Yourself Time
Feelings come and go. Many of us feel guilty and uncomfortable when choosing to put our older family members into retirement communities. We feel incompetent for not looking after them better, feel anxious without their familiar presence in the house and constantly worry about how they are doing in an unfamiliar environment and if they’re being properly taken care of. Whenever you have thoughts like these, it’s important to remind yourself of the reasons why you chose to move your loved one to a retirement home.
Stay in Contact with Your Loved One
Visit your loved ones often after they move out. Keeping in contact with them will be beneficial to both parties. Your presence will be reassuring and comforting to your loved one. You will also be able to assess if your family member is doing well in their new environment. It will strengthen your connection to them and keep them happy. Although they aren’t living with you anymore, your bonds with them should not be affected. They will always remain your precious family.
Compare the Retirement Communities
Research and investigate as many senior living programs as you can. Not every retirement community will provide the same level of assistance and care. So it is in your loved one’s best interest to compare all the possible options to find the best one that fits their needs. If your family member needs any kind of special assistance, search for retirement communities that can provide the required level of care and support.
Visit the Retirement Community
After doing your research, visit the retirement communities with your loved one. If you are considering senior living in Fort Myers, FL, our retirement community provides the best senior living amenities and offers different senior living options. Schedule a tour to assess our community for yourself or let your loved one be our guest and find out what a day with us is like! To learn more about our exclusive senior living programs, contact us today.
