I recently moved my loved one to a different state so that we could be closer together. How might I help them to adjust to their new environment?
The first thing to remember in this situation is that everyone is unique. It might take your loved one a week to become acquainted with their new home, or it may take months. Do not try and rush through the adjustment process. It will take time.
In a very real way this sort of move may feel like a personal loss to your loved one. They may need to grieve. Along with everything else that has been taken away from them by time an Alzheimer’s, so too would it seem that they are also losing their home and their sense of personal autonomy. If they need to grieve, facilitate this process and make sure that you are there to offer your support.
Here are a few things you can do to help your loved one adjust:
-Make a picture album together. Collect images of their favorite memories, vacation spots, old homes, and loved ones. The act of reminiscing may be of profound reassurance to them.
-Fill their room with personal belongings from their previous home. This will allow them to better identify with their space.
-Introduce your loved one to your neighbors and friends. Try to make them feel as though they are being included in a new community.
-If they are able to write, offer them a journal so they can record their new experiences and reflect on their feelings.
-Look for an Alzheimer’s support group that they can attend. This way, they can also feel as though they are a part of a community that contains people in similar situations.
-Offer them the opportunity to sit down and talk to someone other than you. This could be a friend, another family member, a clergy member, or a professionally trained councilor.
For more information on Alzheimer’s, or any of your other Colorado elder law questions, click here to view our Wills and Trusts 101 seminar or call 303-758-0680 to get in touch with one of our Denver estate planning attorneys.