Moving to a care home is a big step. A change of surroundings and space can be overwhelming for some and can take some time to adapt to. Our Select care homes are designed to be a welcoming space for all of our residents, with friendly staff on hand to help residents settle in and ensure they are the happiest they can be. Whether you are moving to a care home yourself or helping a loved one move into a care home, we have pulled together some tips for helping to settle into a care home and adapt to a new life in one of our welcoming care homes.

Pack Something Familiar From Home

If you or your loved one is moving into residential care for the first time, it can often feel like you have to let go of the home you are leaving behind. By taking something as simple as a cushion from home, photo album or even your favourite music with you or your loved one, there will be a reminder of home to see in your new home. Depending on where you are moving to, there may be the facility to take a number of your belongings with you as familiar objects to look at if you begin to miss home.

Keep Family Members Involved Both During and After the Move

Whilst we can’t always have our family with us, keeping loved ones involved during and after the move is one of the best ways to adapt to new surroundings. At our Select care homes, visits from friends and family are welcomed in our homes* and loved ones are encouraged to get involved with helping our residents settle in. Having loved ones involved during the move can also help it feel a lot less daunting and they can provide help with things such as packing and getting in touch with our care homes if anything is needed.

Get a Personal Phone 

Whether you take a personal mobile in from home or ask your chosen care home about putting a phone in your room, a personal phone is a great way to stay in touch with loved ones and can help decrease any homesickness residents may feel. A personal phone, particularly a mobile phone can be the easiest way for residents to contact family and friends and vice versa for arranging visits, asking for treats to be brought in or even just for a quick chat to see how everyone is getting on.

Talk to the Staff Members at your New Care Home

One of the best ways to make sure you have everything you need ready to help you settle into your new care home is to talk to the staff members at your chosen care home. Our friendly staff are always on the lookout for ways to make our residents feel welcome and at home in our care homes so a few calls during the move and afterwards can make all the difference to settling into the care home.

When moving to a care home, the new environment may seem daunting at first but with the help of our care staff, residents learn their way around in no time. If something is stopping you or your loved one from settling into one of our care homes, the best thing to do is simply ask, our friendly care team will be happy to help!

 

If you are looking for a care home for yourself or a relative, get in touch with our team here at Select Healthcare to talk through the best options for you and to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, take a look at our nation-wide care homes here.

*visits from loved ones may be temporarily paused during the pandemic to protect our residents.

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