4 Tips for Moving an Elderly Family Member with Memory Loss

Transitioning a senior loved one into a new home can be stressful. It’s particularly tricky when your family member has cognitive issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Moving can be confusing and upsetting for someone with memory loss, so extra care must be taken. Here are four tips for moving an elderly family member with memory loss.

1. Discuss Everything Beforehand

When you have a family member who requires memory care, discussing things openly with them is important. While cognitive concerns can impact their ability to communicate, it’s still vital that you include them in the planning and details of their move.

Speak directly with them about where they’ll be moving to and how the move will go. Include them in the process by asking them about their concerns and giving them the opportunity to ask questions if they have any.

2. Seek Outside Resources

Moving an elderly family member can be difficult for anyone, which is why you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for outside help.

There are many resources dedicated to helping seniors transition into new living situations, including assisted living facilities and part-time caretakers trained in memory care. These groups and professionals can make the moving process much smoother for people with dementia.

3. Go at a Comfortable Pace

For older adults with cognitive concerns, change can feel more intimidating than ever before. When moving into a new home, make sure to go at a pace that’s comfortable for them. Making such a drastic transition too fast can majorly impact their emotional and physical well-being.

Try to slow down the moving process by planning everything in advance and coming up with a detailed timetable, allotting extra time to various tasks as needed. From there, you can do everything at a pace that suits your loved one’s needs.

4. Keep Familiar Items Around

Seniors with memory loss often struggle to relax and find comfort in new environments. This unease can be significantly worse right after their environment has changed. To ease your loved one’s mind, try to keep as many of their favorite personal belongings around as possible.

This can be tricky if they’re moving into a much smaller place, such as an assisted living facility. Try to narrow it down to a handful of their most important possessions or things that hold a special place in their heart. These items can be a source of fond memories of their old home.

Ensuring That Your Elderly Loved One Feels at Home

If you’re moving an elderly family member with dementia, it’s important to make the transition as stress-free for them as possible. From talking things over beforehand to going at a comfortable pace, there are numerous ways to make the moving process easier for a senior adult in memory care.