Sending an elderly loved one to an assisted living is a tough decision that has to be made. It is more challenging when your parent suffers from dementia. It is never easy to put aside the emotional aspect of making the decision, even though you are doing this for the good of your parent. You will undoubtedly find difficulties along the way, but keep in mind that aged care homes are the best solution for you and your parents. When they move to a nursing home, you can be relieved as they are indeed in good hands. However, you need to be very attentive to moving a parent with dementia to a nursing facility. Read more to find out what you can do to help them.
Identify the medical diagnosis
It is important to receive a medical evaluation that indicates the stage of dementia that your parent suffers from. Every patient with dementia may struggle with different journeys. Therefore, you need to understand your parent’s condition. In some phases, the patients are unable to carry out their day-to-day activities and require extensive help and support. However, some people get diagnosed with dementia early, and they can easily forget the recent stuff that has happened in their lives. Although it is still not considered to be a major issue, it still needs personalized care and attention to ensure that it won’t get worse. If you are already aware of your parent’s dementia diagnosis, you can consult with the aged care nurses to determine whether they can provide supports that your parent needs.
Explore a reliable nursing home in your area
It is essential to find the right aged care home that assures the best care for your elderly loved one. However, it is equally important to ensure that the facility’s location is not far from where you live. Although your parent has obtained proper care from skilled nursing assistants, they still require your time and attention. It is heartbreaking to see your parent losing all the beautiful memories. When you can discover a reliable nursing home near you, you can easily make regular visits. You will also become less worried, as you can immediately stop by the assisted facility in case of an emergency.
Begin discussions
Although this decision is made purely for your parents’ good, you still need to start a discussion about it with your parent. At the end of the day, your parent will be the one who stays at the nursing facility. Therefore, you need to make sure that both of you are on the same page about this transition. Let them know about your concerns and try to understand their point of view about moving to a nursing facility.
Finally, keep in mind that this process is not only tough for you. Your parent may have a similar feeling about it while living in Richmond aged care because they are missing their own home. It is completely normal and bound to happen. In such a situation, show them that you are still there for them and let them know that their emotions are valid. But you also need to remember that there are professional nurses who will look after your parents.
