What to Expect When Transitioning to a Senior Living Apartment
Many individuals are understandably nervous about transitioning from their home to a senior living community. Uncertainty about where they’ll live, who they’ll meet, and what to expect along the way keep many from experiencing the joy that comes with a vibrant senior living apartment community.
If you or someone you love is preparing to make the transition to a senior living apartment or memory care community, knowing what to expect can make a significant difference. Let’s walk through what to know as you make the move, and how the right team can help you call your new apartment a home.
Recognize The Emotional Journey You’re Embarking On
Before you even begin to move in and arrange your belongings, take a moment for yourself and recognize the reality of your move.
Like many, you may be feeling a range of emotions as you consider transitioning from one stage of life to the next. The emotions may swing wildly as well – one moment, you are excited at the prospect of meeting new people and taking on new hobbies, and the next, you’re nervous about life in an unfamiliar place.
By taking the time to recognize your feelings, you can better prepare yourself for the next stages of a transition to a senior living community. Plus, you’ll be better prepared to communicate your feelings with loved ones and the apartment staff, helping them make your transition all the more comfortable.
One tip we would offer is to consider framing this transition as a new beginning rather than an ending. With so many new people to meet and things to do and see, this move may just be the start of the next great chapter of life!
Prep The Practical Stuff
With any move, the more you can prepare your practical details, the easier the experience will be. Moving into a senior living apartment comes with more than a few elements that you’ll want to make sure you have covered:
What’s your timeline?
You’ll want to have a clear picture of the timeline of your move, such as when you can expect to move into your new apartment, when you’ll need to move out of your current home, and what to expect along the way.
Will you need to downsize?
Transitioning to an assisted living community often requires a bit of reduction. You’ll want to plan out how you are going to downsize your belongings and what you’ll want to bring with you to your new place.
What paperwork and documentation is required?
Most moves require some aspect of legal documentation and financial paperwork – so make sure to ask the apartment management for everything you need upfront and when you should have it returned.
Will you hire moving services?
If you need the help of a moving service, you’ll want to get that scheduled early to avoid scheduling delays.
Do you need help from family and friends?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and loved ones – many are more than willing to help you move into your new apartment and make it feel like home!
The earlier you can begin to plan these aspects of your transition, the easier – and you can relax knowing that most of the details have been planned for ahead of the move. This is a great time to have a designated person as your primary contact who can act as a point person throughout the process.
Making Your Apartment Feel Like Home
Once you move in, the real fun begins. This is your chance to turn your apartment into a comfortable and personalized place – and many senior living communities are more than happy to accommodate to make the process easy.
You may want to get a map of your apartment layout and floor plan ahead of the move so that you can begin planning what to bring and where it will fit. This will help you get excited about the new that’s coming rather than thinking of leaving your previous home.
You’ll also want to get a feel for the safety and accessibility of the community at large. You’ll need to know where to find help from staff, where dining and commons rooms are located, and how to get help in the event of an emergency.
Getting Acclimated To Senior Community Living
A senior living community is just that – a community. And with that community comes the opportunity to meet new people and get involved. Most communities have a wide variety of activities you can get plugged into and ways to take full advantage of the amenities that the community offers.
Here are some of the key amenities you’ll want to get familiar with from day one:
- Meal services and dining options
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Maintenance and repair services
- Transportation services to and from the community
- Healthcare access and other professional services
Build a list of the contacts to reach out to as you have any questions or concerns, and get to know them on a personal level. This will help you feel right at home should you need any help or guidance in your new home!
Make Connections and Get Involved
The residents who make an effort to meet new people are those who report feeling the most satisfaction with their new senior living apartment.
Make sure to get in on social events and gatherings early, and don’t be afraid to bring a friend or loved one should you need a little extra support. You’ll find that many of the other senior living community members are more than happy to welcome you and give you a place to feel at home.
Connect with the staff of your community as well – especially the move-in coordinator and others who may have a hand in helping you transition int your new space. They will often be the first to help you connect with others and show you around.
Quick Tip For A Smooth Move
Here are some of our top tips for making those first weeks and months of your transition easy and enjoyable:
- Establish your new routines early: Have a plan for when you’ll get up, when you’ll get out, and when you’ll be home. The sooner you can get into a consistent, comfortable routine, the more likely you will begin to feel at ease in your apartment.
- Stay organized: It’s easy to feel overwhelmed during a move, so take the time early on to get your things organized and clean. You’d be amazed at how much a little organization can help you feel at home!
- Create a communication plan: Create and implement a communication plan for you and your family, as well as your friends. Make sure they know when and how they can reach you and how often you’d like them to check-in.
- Set realistic goals and expectations for everyone: Transitions impact different people at different rates, so make sure everyone is aware of your expectations on your move. Don’t be afraid to ask for more help, and be clear about what you need throughout the process.
Your Next Chapter Awaits At Bailey Pointe
The Team at Bailey Pointe Assisted Living at Roxbury Park is ready to help you transition to your new senior living apartment. Our luxury floor plans, resident amenities, and thriving community are second to none, and we are proud to offer the best senior living community in the Omaha, Nebraska area.
Have questions or want to learn more about how to make the most out of your next stage in life? Reach out today and schedule a tour – and let us know how we can be of any help along the way!