3 Things to Pack When Moving to Assisted Living

Moving a loved one to assisted living can be daunting. Especially if your parent, spouse or family member is moving from a home they’ve lived in for many years. As we know, homes are filled with some of the things we find most near and dear to us. This makes it hard to part with many items. When moving to assisted living, it’s best to pack the things you know your loved one can’t bear to part with.

Some senior living communities offer furnished suites within their assisted living communities, but it can be more comfortable for a senior to be surrounded by furnishings and decorations that hold sentimental value.

This is why MorningStar in Sparks, NV recommends that retirement residents pack these 3 things when moving to assisted living. While you may not have room to bring everything, here are some things to not leave behind when embarking on your move to a retirement community:

1. Multifunctional Items       

Items that elicit emotional reactions while still being functional are important things to consider when moving to assisted living. These items not only serve practical purposes but also contribute to a positive emotional environment, promoting a sense of familiarity and comfort. Items like:

• A favorite recliner or lounge chair
• Custom bedding
• Passed-down kitchen wears
• A music player and favorite music 

       2. Keepsakes                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                              Adorning your assisted living space with memories is one of the quickest ways to make your new apartment feel like home. Help your loved one hang treasured pictures and photographs or create shadow boxes for them full of some of their favorite memories. 

       3. Hobbies and Activities     

                                                                                                                                                                  While your assisted living home will have plenty of chances to be social and participate in activities within the senior living community, there will still be moments when you will want time for yourself or a small group. Bringing some of your favorite hobby supplies like paints, books, board games and movies will help to comfort seniors when they have downtime.

Find Award Winning Assisted Living Near You

Contact us today if you want to know about the best senior living community with built-in companionship, predictable budgeting, and modern memory care Nevada has to offer. MorningStar Senior Living Retirement Homes in Sparks, Nevada takes care of the worry and stress of aging, allowing seniors more time to do the things they love. Whether it’s fulfilling a calling, finding a new opportunity through volunteerism, or spending time with friends and loved ones and relaxing, contact us to schedule a tour of our memory care community near you.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar Sparks “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve.

Help Bring Back Happy Memories for Mom or Dad with Scrapbooking

If an elderly parent is in a senior living community and has limited mobility, you may feel it is difficult to think of things to talk about or to do when you visit.  Scrapbooking is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Also, it can be more than just a means to pass the time and preserve memories for seniors but can be beneficial to them as well. 

By organizing an activity such as scrapbooking, it can help to keep everyone engaged as well as inspire your loved one to start sharing stories about the “good old days.”  As you start documenting their life story, it will likely bring back memories they may have forgotten and/or ones the rest of the family knows nothing about.  Along with exercising the brain with recollections of the past, scrapbooking can boost self-esteem, improve one’s dexterity and increase socialization by introducing new topics of conversation.

To get started, visit your local craft store or shop on the Internet for scrapbooking supplies that will help you create a book that is uniquely your parent’s.  Your next step is to help gather and organize the photos and materials in chronological order that will go into the scrapbook.  

If the project seems too overwhelming for your parents, have them pick a theme such as family vacations or weddings through the years, or do one that focuses on their childhood and early years.  Before you start to glue things in, take the time to layout the photos and mementos for each page; and most importantly, encourage and enjoy the stories and memories shared by your loved one.  

At MorningStar at Arcadia, our beautiful community offers assisted living homes a host of amenities, care services and wellness programs as well as activities that include arts and crafts projects.  Nestled in the popular Phoenix residential neighborhood of Arcadia, MorningStar offers 80 private assisted living suites and 30 suites in our Reflections Neighborhood devoted to the individualized care of those with memory impairment.  Please see our website to learn more.

MorningStar takes tremendous pride in the reputation we have earned for excellence and authenticity since our inception in 2003.  We believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless; and we act upon that truth daily, as we care for, inspire, and love the residents under our roof. Contact us for more information about the finest memory care and assisted living Phoenix offers.