Deciding when it is the right time to go into a retirement home/facility can be such an incredibly hard decision. You want to make sure you are making the right choice and are well prepared for the next step in your life. There is a lot to consider along the decision-making path.
To start off with, a great way of having a proper think about whether it’s the right time for you or your loved one to move into a retirement home is by visiting some websites; one option could be Cedar Village, you can also go and physically visit different places. It’s a great idea to go on tours and have a look at a whole range of places to make sure you choose the one most suited to you.
Speak to a doctor
Probably the person who will know the absolute best whether it is time for you to move into a retirement home is your doctor. Book an appointment to talk through with a trusted doctor what they think would be best. Ask them if they think you are ready for that step and whether that would be the best decision for you.
Check how your health is with a health check-up and check to see how they think your health will be going forward. Do they think you should move in straight away or soon? Or are you fine for the foreseeable future, and the move to a retirement home is something that is still far off.
Speak to family and friends
The other people who will have a good idea on whether it is time for you to start the next chapter of your life are your close family and friends. You need to have some big honest conversation with the people you love and who care about you and see how they think you are doing. Be honest about how you feel and find out if other people have noticed that you need extra help that would be best suited to the lifestyle of a retirement home.
It might be hard to work out on your own whether this step is the right one right now, but it’s never too soon to check in with those around you and find out if this could be something coming up that you need to start thinking about and preparing for.
Find the right place
When deciding where to go, you want to make sure you are looking at all your options, see where you would like to be. Make sure you are comfortable with the rooms, look at pricing, look at whether the places you are looking at are fully capable of providing you with any of the care that you might need, not just now but also in the future if your health changes while staying in the retirement home.
Activities and entertainment are also another great reason to move into a residential home as you can meet lots of people in a similar situation to you and try new things do some of the things that you love.
What to ask potential retirement homes
When heading to retirement homes to take a tour, there are some things you can do to prepare. It can be a good idea to make a list of questions to ask the staff you meet while you are on tours of retirement homes prior to your visit.
Here is a list of the questions that are great to ask to really give you full knowledge and look at the facility:
• What are the room options available for me? Do I have a choice?
• What activities are provided? Will any cost more?
• What activities or entertainment is provided?
• What are their reviews?
• Are residents happy here?
• What sort of security is in place?
• What sort of routine do you have in place?
• How flexible are you with your resident’s routine?
• Are there specific times for guests to come?
• How many staff are there at any time?
Actually deciding to make the change
Making the change from living in your current home to a retirement home can be such a huge step. This daunting change comes about when the time is right, and it’s not something to be afraid of. Here are some great ways to make sure you are prepared.
What to bring with you
Although it might seem like quite a basic thing to do, what you bring with you will really help to broach this change. You want to be surrounded by all the things that you love and that you are familiar with. Bringing photos of loved ones and friends is a great idea, as well as any decorations that remind you of home and will let you feel more comfortable in your new environment.
Alternative options
Of course, retirement homes can be the best option, whether you are looking for independence and meeting more new people or looking for assisted living that gives people more help and comfort, but there are other options out there. One thing that you could consider is moving to a home that is more accommodating and staying there. The best idea would be a bungalow or low-level flat as stairs can become challenging as we get to later life.
The other thing that can make a lot of difference in your quality of care and help you stay living in your own home is to hire help. There are some great options out there for hired help that can come in and take care of you and help with any medical or basic tasks that you find challenging to do alone.
You could have someone move in for 24/7 care or just have people come in regularly and at regular intervals in the week.
This can be a great choice for people who aren’t comfortable relocating and what to stay wherever it is that they are currently living and stick to their more normal schedule and daily rituals.
