Moving into a care home in the Cowichan and Chemainus valleys can be a challenging adjustment for someone living with dementia. The adjustment can take weeks or even months and often entails a lot of anxiety.
The same is true for the person caring for them. While caregivers may experience a variety of emotions, establishing a new routine may prove just as difficult.
To help things go smoothly during the first few weeks after the move, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. has a few tips for Valley caregivers:
• Reassure the person who just moved to the care home by telling them how much their friends and family care.
• Familiarize yourself with the care home and get to know the staff, management, residents and other caregivers.
• Consider joining the person for a few meals in the dining room with other residents, so that they can get used to the new surroundings and meet other residents.
• Help with tasks such as mealtimes and personal grooming. Before taking on a particular role, discuss it with the care team.
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. offers a free webinar providing practical tips for adjusting to the transition as a caregiver. It takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.
It will also explore more tips for enhancing care home visits, working with a care team and acting as an advocate for quality dementia care. Register for the webinar at alzbc.org/long-term-care-move
