**The following post is authored by Natalie Langley, MSW.  She is working on SCANS (for more on SCANS, please see Eric's blog by clicking here) and will be a 'guest blogger' from time to time.**

Moving older adults from their homes to assisted living can often be a challenging move and an adjustment; after all, any move is an adjustment for all of us and can create feelings of stress.  Assisted Living Facilities are designed for those who need extra help in their day to day lives, but do not require 24 hour skilled nursing care.  The older adults moving to an assisted living facility may feel they are losing their independence as they move to a place that will help them with their care or with household chores.   However, there are several things families can do to ensure their loved ones have a smooth move.   After determining the services they may need assistance with (dressing, bathing, housekeeping chores, etc), obtain a list of assisted living facilities nearby.  This list can be found at www.alfa.org or in a local phone book.  Include the older adult in this decision making process.  This will help to empower them and allow them to know they are a part of their health care decisions.  Next, schedule a time to view the assisted living home and take a tour.  Talk with the staff and the residents to see how they enjoy being there.  Pay attention to what is going on; do they have activities going on the main gathering room?  Do they ever go on outings or go shopping?  If so, how often?  Are the residents out and about or is it quiet in the building and many are in their rooms?  Ask to get a menu; what foods are served?  Do they have substitutes if there is something on the menu residents do not like?  For a complete checklist on things to ask and consider when visiting an assisted living facility, please go to the National Center for Assisted Living website at http://www.longtermcareliving.com/assess/al/assisted8.cfm. 

Once a place has been decided on, families can be involved in many ways to help make this a smooth transition for their loved one.  First, help with sorting, packing up boxes, labeling which room the box goes in, etc.  This will help reduce stress when moving day comes.  Listen to how they would like for you to help.  Stay positive and smile.  This will help ease the stress for the older adult.  If they sense you are nervous and stressed, they will pick up on that and may begin to feel that way if they are not already.  It is important to remember that these feelings usually will lessen after the move is complete and they begin to settle in.  Give them time to adjust.  Offer to help hang up pictures, etc. around their room to help make it “home-ier”.   Participate in activities with your loved one while there or eat dinner with them one evening.   Try to keep the routine consistent; if you always visited them on Sundays and Wednesdays when they lived at home, keep that schedule.  Remember, the person has not changed… only their address has.   For more information on assisted living facilities, please visit www.alfa.org.