Plan to have your senior loved ones move into a warm community before winter, for safety against the hazards of the colder season, such as ice, snow, and power outages. Additionally, you’ll be helping your senior loved one combat winter isolation and loneliness by providing companionship and social activities within a safe, staffed environment.
Plus, having your senior loved one in a safe community during winter, allows for access to care and on-site staff, who are available 24/7 in case of emergency. Also, nutritious, delicious meal options, healthcare, and a variety of amenities and activities. All of which helps circumvent the stress of home maintenance during harsh weather, ensuring health and well-being through the colder months.
Health and Safety
- Side-step the Perils of Winter by moving your loved one in before freezing temperatures begin, you can avoid the risks of them slipping on ice and snow. These are common causes of serious injuries for seniors.
- Protection from unsafe elements such as power outages and extreme cold, which can delay getting to a loved one who has fallen or needs help taking lifesaving medication, which can be dangerous if missed and often happens when living alone.
- Reduced Illness is a big benefit when living in a warm, clean, indoor environment with strict infection control policies, easy access to vaccinations, and on-site medical professionals to help prevent colds, the flu, and other illnesses that are more prevalent in winter
Social and Emotional Wellbeing
- Combat Isolation because senior living communities offer a social environment and opportunities to make friends with similar interests, this prevents the loneliness and depression that can arise during shorter, darker winter days.
- Companionship and Activities are available so residents can make friendships with peers and participate in group activities, ensuring they remain engaged and happy during the holiday season.
- A Warm, Welcoming Atmosphere await your senior loved one’s move to a senior living community before winter, allowing them to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the holidays in a vibrant community where they will be surrounded by friends and staff. Families are encouraged to join in the festivities!
Convenience and Peace of Mind
- Eliminate Home Maintenance Stress by moving your loved one into a senior living facility before winter, and avoid the cost and physical stress of snow removal, furnace maintenance, and having to winterize a home.
- Onsite Amenities means that everything residents need, including meals, transportation, activities, and care, is located within the community, removing the need for dangerous winter travel.
- Caregiver Relief is something that communities are proactive in providing. Peace of mind can be achieved for families who are concerned about their loved one’s ability to manage winter challenges at home.
Of Note
Teresa was resistant to moving into a senior living community: “My mom, Teresa, agreed to stay for the winter after a serious fall on black ice, put her in a rehabilitation facility. But she ended up making friends and didn’t want to leave.”
Holiday gift exchange drew residents closer together. The community had a bus that took the residents Christmas shopping, finishing up with a trip to the see a festive light show at Smith Point Beach, on Long Island. The residents sang seasonal songs and shared laughs while sipping hot cocoa.
New Year’s Eve Party celebrations with live entertainment, had residents toasting one another with champagne and chef prepared hors d’oeuvres, instead of sitting in a corner alone.
Strategies for Persuading a Senior Loved One to Move
Act early when trying to persuade a loved one to move into a senior living facility, rather than waiting for a winter crisis. And focus on empathy, empowerment, and safety. Frame the move as an opportunity to enhance their quality of life, not as a loss of independence.
Before Talk with Your Loved One
- Recognize their feelings, being mindful that your loved one may dig in their heels due to fear of losing their independence, change, or emotional attachment to their home. Approaching them with compassion and respect is critical.
- Have a family sit down. If possible, speak with other family members first to present a united and consistent message. A large, confrontational “intervention” should be avoided, but a family meeting can be an effective way to communicate your shared concern and commitment.
- Contact Guidingly to look into several potential facilities that meet your loved one’s needs, lifestyle, and budget. Having concrete information and options will make the conversation feel more collaborative.
Have the Conversation with Your Loved One
- Pick the right time and place. Ideally, it’s best to have the discussion before a health scare and before the holidays. Choosing a neutral, private setting when you both have plenty of time and are not rushed or stressed will increase your loved one’s comfort.
- Begin asking open-ended questions. Ask about their future plans and how they feel about their current living situation. For example, “What are your goals for the next few months?” or “What aspects of maintaining the house do you find challenging?”
- Use “I” statements. Frame your concerns around your feelings rather than making accusations. For instance, instead of saying, “You can’t live here alone anymore,” try, “I worry about your safety with the ice and snow, and it would give me peace of mind knowing you are somewhere safe for the winter”.
- Highlight the benefits, especially during winter:
- Eliminate chores: The move would remove the stress and danger of winter maintenance, such as shoveling snow, salting walkways, and servicing the furnace.
- Reduce isolation: During winter, it can be unsafe to go out, leading to loneliness. Senior living communities offer abundant indoor social activities, communal meals, and friendly faces to combat the “winter blues”.
- Improve safety: Professional staff are available 24/7 in case of a fall or other emergency, which is especially important during winter’s hazardous weather.
Exploring Options Together
- Involve them in the process. Present the communities that Guidingly has researched and is recommending to tour. This keeps your loved one in control of their own future and makes them a partner in the decision-making. Guidingly is glad to speak to them directly.
- Guidingly Arranges Tours. Seeing a potential home in person can help dispel misconceptions and alleviate fears. Some communities offer trial winter stays, which is an excellent way for your loved one to experience the lifestyle firsthand for a season.
- Plan the move-in. Once a decision is made, involve them in downsizing and personalizing their new space with their favorite belongings and photos. Planning a late autumn move allows for more moderate weather and gives them time to settle in before the holidays.
Common Pain Points
- “I’m not ready yet.” Acknowledge their feelings and let them know the conversation is ongoing. You can respond with, “What would make you feel more ready?” or “Let’s just gather information for now”.
- “It’s too expensive.” Help them compare the costs of staying in their home (utilities, maintenance, and insurance) versus the bundled services of a senior living community. With Guidingly’s help, investigate financial assistance options like long-term care insurance or other benefits.
- “I’ll lose my independence.” Point out that the community’s services, such as transportation and housekeeping, actually free up their time and energy for hobbies and social activities. Emphasize that the goal is to enhance, not remove, their autonomy.
- “I don’t want to leave my memories.” Validate this emotional attachment. Reassure them that memories don’t live in the house and that cherished photos and furniture will come with them.
Leveraging professional help
- Involve a neutral third party. If your loved one is still resistant, a trusted physician, clergy member, or social worker can bring an objective perspective and mediate the conversation.