Senior Living: How long does it take to adjust to assisted living?

If your loved one has recently moved to assisted living, you may be worried about how long it will take for them to adjust to the transition. Let’s face it, moving to assisted living is a huge decision and a major life change; adjustment isn’t easy. In fact, experts suggest it can take 3-6 months on average for most people to adjust to the move. That said, there are things you can do to make the transition more comfortable for your loved one.

At Evergreen Retirement, we understand that the move into assisted living can have its challenges. In this article, we explore a few ways you can help ease the transition into assisted living.

Visit often

To avoid having your parent or loved one feel abandoned or lonely, it’s essential to visit them often, though you’ll need to also give them space – especially in the beginning. Be sure to encourage other friends and family members to do the same. With that in mind, it’s important that you set boundaries, and encourage your loved one to socialize with other residents, venture outside of their room or apartment, and make new friends. 

Personalize their space

Most people downsize before moving into assisted living, due to space constraints. But that doesn’t mean everything has to go. Encourage your loved one to keep their most special and treasured possessions for decorating their new space. Having familiar surroundings will help remind them of positive memories as they get settled, making their transition to assisted living much more comfortable.

Be patient

It’s normal for it to take months to fully adjust to the move into assisted living, so be realistic in your expectations. Even when it seems to be going smoothly, it’s important to recognize that such major life changes are stressful, and setbacks are bound to happen. Be positive, while also acknowledging that frustrations and challenges will come up.

Closing Thoughts

Moving to assisted living can be a challenge, but there are things you can do to make it easier. Just taking a few easy steps, like visiting often, being patient, and helping your loved one personalize their space, will help make a huge difference for improving the overall experience. 

Evergreen is a modern and active senior living community in the Los Angeles area. To learn more about our community, contact us today to schedule a tour.