It’s time to visit someone you care for who has recently moved into an assisted living facility (ALF). The visit has been one you have both anticipated and dreaded. How will your friend look? Will the room be bare and hospital-like? Will your visit be interrupted by other residents?
Assisted living is not the same as a nursing home where residents need a lot of help in their daily living. Skilled facilities care for long term residents that are of failing health while assisted living is for people who need only a small amount of assistance. The two facility types usually look much different once you pass the common area. Skilled facilities have a more medical look, while assisted living has a comfortable home-like atmosphere.
Often your friend will have a private room or possibly an apartment style living area. These facilities are designed to allow residents to feel comfortable in their surroundings, just like home. One fear that visitors have, until they get to know the facility, is that it will have a smell and they will need to hide their discomfort. In most cases, people living in ALFs do not have incontinent issues. Some may, but are aware of their physical limitations and will be fastidious about their hygiene in order to avoid the stigma of being ‘old’ with urine odor.
Your loved one will probably be self-conscious. You can ease this by treating their new living space as you would their former home. Your friend may give you a tour, if they do, don’t point out any ‘bad’ things. Doing this can make them dwell on all the differences between the facility and their former home, helping depression set in. Keep a cheerful demeanor!
Another thing you can do is visit often. When people go into any facility, a lot of times family and friends visit often, then the visits taper off. The resident feels abandoned. If you are unable to visit, try to call every day.
Letters are another way to supplement visits. These days we are all using email and phone calls, but a good old fashioned letter can make someone’s day. It shows that you had that person on your mind and cared enough to put your thoughts to paper.
Remember that your loved one has only moved into a new home, not been admitted to a long term invalid-type situation. Continuing to be a friend will be the best thing you can do for them!
Tags: ALF, Assisted Living Facility, Family, Resident, Senior Citizen, Skilled Nursing Facility, Visit
