Transitioning to a senior living community can be difficult for seniors and their families.
It’s a significant life change for older adults, and moving from your family home, neighbors, and friends into a new environment can be difficult.
However, moving to senior living during the holidays can feel even more overwhelming and emotionally charged for seniors and their families.
This blog shares practical tips to ease the transition to senior living during the holidays, including organizing, emotional support, and maintaining traditions to create a smoother, less stressful move.
7 tips to transition to senior living during the holiday season
1. Start Planning Early
Planning a move before the holiday will alleviate stress.
The holiday season is a busy time. Between juggling social events, decorating, and shopping, it’s common to feel overwhelmed. Adding a move to a senior living community can stretch you to your limit.
Create a strategy for the move and carefully plan tasks such as packing, organizing, and transitioning to senior living with family members and the senior living community.
Planning early will give you ample time to move and adjust to this significant change without feeling rushed and stressed. In addition, having a clear plan helps to avoid mistakes and mishaps, making the move more organized and less chaotic.
2. Create a Comfortable Living Space
One of the best ways to make moving to a senior living community easier is to create a beautiful, comfortable living space that feels like home.
Personalize your living space with your favorite furniture, framed family photos, family heirlooms, accessories, favorite books, and artwork. If you’re helping a loved one move, let them choose what items to take to their new living space.
Make the living space comfortable with plush comforters, linens, and plants. During the holidays, add festive touches such as a small tree decorated with family favorites, garland, and holiday candles.
Inviting the family to decorate your new living space while listening to holiday music and enjoying a meal can start a new tradition and ease the transition.
3. Celebrate Family Traditions
One of older adults' biggest fears about moving to senior living is not being involved in family traditions.
Moving to a senior living community doesn’t mean you must forgo favorite family traditions.
Maintain holiday traditions in and out of the senior living community.
Take a break from the community by having dinner with family at a favorite restaurant or their home, invite family to the community for a holiday dinner, or bring grandkids over to make cookies and cards or to decorate your new apartment.
4. Plan Visits with Family & Friends
Plan frequent visits to your loved one's senior living community to let them know they’re loved and part of the family. Plan a family visit to the community to share a meal, enjoy holiday decorations, or enjoy the amenities. Many senior living communities offer shared spaces for family events and can help residents organize and plan family events.
5. Participate in Activities
Isolation and loneliness are common for older adults, especially during the holidays. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. report feeling lonely.
One of the most significant advantages of living in a senior living community is the abundance of planned activities and events.
Senior living communities like Allegro are designed for socially active older adults.
Residents in Allegro communities stay busy with:
- Monthly themed events
- Group-oriented activities
- Happy Hours
- Cooking demonstration
- Volunteer opportunities
- Resident led clubs
- Transportation to local restaurants, shopping, and areas of interest
- Engaging lectures
Community involvement allows you to meet new residents, make friends, and establish connections.
6. Enjoy the Amenities
Luxury senior living communities offer convenient resort-like amenities such as pools, walking trails, fitness centers, modern apartments, chef-prepared meals, and waterfront views.
These fantastic amenities will help you acclimate faster and meet other residents.
7. Focus on The Benefits of Senior Living
Transitioning to a senior living community has its challenges, especially during the holidays.
However, moving to a senior living community has numerous benefits for older adults and their families, including housekeeping and laundry services, assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming, on-site medical professionals, health and wellness programs, and 24/7 security.
This exceptional maintenance-free lifestyle with convenience and support right at your fingertips was designed just for you.
Wrap-up
Moving to a senior living community during the holidays can be difficult for older adults and their families. However, there are ways to make this move more enjoyable, even during this busy time of year.
With thoughtful planning, starting early, focusing on the benefits, and maintaining family traditions, you can help make the transition smoother and more enjoyable for your loved one.
Tis the season of giving, love, and joy! With a little of all three, you can turn a stressful event into an opportunity for new traditions and beginnings for yourself and your loved one.
If you have questions about transitioning to any of Allegro’s senior living communities, download our Successful Transitions guide or contact us to speak with an advisor.
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