Navigating the Transition to a Long-Term Care Facility

Transitioning to a nursing home or assisted living facility can be difficult in many ways. Make sure your loved one receives the attention they deserve and understands how socialization can help them through this change.

Introduce your loved one to the staff

Staff in assisted living facilities and nursing homes don't know the life story of a person who moves in. They are focused on medical issues and the plan of care. Telling the staff about your parent or grandparent before they moved into the facility provides a complete and rich picture of an accomplished person with a long history. When staff know more about residents, they're more likely to connect with them. Here are some ways to do this:

• Write a biography and post it outside the door of your loved one's room.
• When developing a care plan with the nursing staff, be specific about your loved one's preferences in the context of their life story. Feel free to discuss their work, family, and interesting and unique facts.
• Aides often provide most of the care in any long-term care facility. They're typically limited in the time they can spend with each resident. However, take a moment to engage them in who your loved one is and tell them how much you appreciate their care.
• Bring personal items such as photos or other meaningful mementos. Involve your loved one in these decisions. Familiar surroundings can provide comfort and security for your loved one and help staff members get to know them better. You may have little space to deal with, so be selective.

Plan visits with your loved one

Immediately following a move-in, staff may advise you not to visit too often to give your loved one a chance to bond with the care staff. Let personal preference and your loved one's behavior guide your decision. Unplanned visits can give you a better idea of how care is going, but you may also catch your loved one in an activity such as bathing, which may be uncomfortable for them. As time passes, frequent visits are necessary to assess care and reassure your loved one that they are not alone.

Involve family and friends. Ask them to visit and call. Coordinate calls and visits with one another to ensure the most interaction each week.

Advocate for your loved one

Advocating is important to ensure quality care and a successful transition:

• Be observant. Details matter in long-term care. Watch for cleanliness, food quality, and how the staff treats your loved one. Familiarize yourself with all aspects of the care plan, including medications.
• Attend care plan meetings. Nursing homes should have regular care plan meetings where all disciplines discuss your loved one's care. Attend these meetings even if you have to call in. This is your chance to hear the point of view of the care professionals and discuss concerns or changes.
• Get to know the staff. A friendly but involved approach shows that you care. Get to know the aides, nurses, director of nursing, and the administrator.
• Talk to your loved one. Monitoring your loved one's adjustment involves discussing their concerns and providing reassurance that you will address them.

Staying involved at a distance

Monitoring care at a distance can be difficult, but there are ways to stay connected and involved:

• Use Facetime or other video conferencing platforms to observe how your loved one looks and acts. Ask the staff to assist with setting this up.
• Ask friends in the area to drop by and visit and then give you a report.
• Consider hiring a geriatric care manager who can visit, advocate, and communicate concerns.
• Participate virtually in any care plan meetings.

Long-term care facilities are designed to keep your loved one safe, and helping them adjust may be challenging. Stay involved, flexible, and empathetic to your loved one's concerns to help increase the likelihood of a successful transition.