Moving your loved ones to assisted living can be a delicate transition. It’s natural for your family member or loved one to feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or even scared at first. Remember, this person has likely been living on their own for many years, has lived a full and independent life, and may have trouble adjusting to the reality of aging.
However, adjustment is a process, not a single moment.
With patience, empathy, and support, most residents begin to feel more comfortable and secure in their new environment quickly.
Below, we’ll help you understand what you can do to make the transition to assisted living the most comfortable and stress-free process for everyone involved.
Understanding the Emotional Side of the Move To Assisted Living
There are some common emotions associated with the transition to assisted living. These include anxiety, grief, and uncertainty.
New patients can feel scared because they are leaving the safety of their home, perhaps a home they’ve lived in for many years. They may feel grief because of the loss in independence that inevitably comes with aging. Also, they may feel uncertain about what their new reality may look like.
These feelings are completely normal.
Family members may also be feeling these emotions as well. Again, this is not unusual and all part of the aging process.
The most important thing you can do for your family member is to have patience and remain empathetic. How might you feel if you were facing the same situation? How would you want to be treated?
How To Ease the Transition to an Assisted Living Community
Perhaps the most important part of helping your relatives adjust to assisted living is to maintain connection and contact with your family members. For those transitioning, you can provide the continuity, routine, and familiarity that may be missing in the first months and weeks.
The best way to maintain connection is with regular calls and visits. Visits especially tend to brighten the days of those in assisted living, and phone calls can help with any questions or anxiety.
It’s also important to keep your family members involved in any family news or decisions. People, even the elderly, like to feel needed and included. By keeping your loved ones’ in assisted living abreast of family news, they can feel less cut off from daily activities.
Finally, encourage your loved ones to participate in assisted living community events or programs. This can help them make friends in their new home and stave off boredom.
The Role of Family Members in Adjusting To Assisted Living
In addition to visits and phone calls, loved ones can also be directly involved in the lives of their loved ones by:
- Advocating directly for their parents, grandparent, or loved ones with the facility: Make sure they are getting all of their food, medicine, recreation, and anything else they may need.
- Attend care meetings: These help keep family members informed of issues or successes their loved ones might have and offer a chance to advocate for them.
- Family members can also offer emotional support while promoting independence: Going on walks, creating art, reading, and learning new skills are great ways to promote independence in assisted living.
Choosing the Right Senior Living in Arizona
When looking for a senior living in Arizona, a few things are important to investigate.
The first is licensing. You certainly don’t want your family in an unlicensed facility. You should also check the type and duration of the training staff members receive.
Another important number to note are staff-to-resident ratios. Better facilities have a lower number of staff to residents. This helps ensure your loved one gets the care and supervision they need.
You should also look for a good cultural fit and a facility that has pleasant amenities. The right environment helps loved ones feel at home more quickly. With the right fit and wellness activities to keep your loved one happy, in time, they should be able to make friends and settle in.
Contact Us Today for a Smooth Transition
While the transition to assisted living can be a scary or uncertain time — both for you and your loved ones — there are some things you can do to make the transition easier for everyone. Remember to have empathy for the situation, patience for everyone involved, and to maintain the connection with your loved one through regular visits and phone calls.
You can also directly advocate for your loved one with the facility, attend any care meetings, and encourage your family member to participate in care activities.
In time, they should feel right at home, and you should feel good about the care your loved one is getting.
If you have any further questions about the transition to assisted living, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are looking forward to serving both you and your family members in this transitional period in their lives.
Contact Haven Health to learn how we can help your loved one to feel at home in assisted living.
Sources:
Long-Term Care Facilities: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Other Residential Care. (2025).
Scott, J., et al. (2019). Adjusting to the Transition Into Assisted Living: Opportunities For Nurse Practitioners.
Woodruff, L. (2021). Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Facility.