When your aging loved one is moving into a senior living community, it can be momentous in not only their lives but also yours.
A million different thoughts are probably racing through your head such as:
- How can I help make their space feel comfortable and personal?
- What kind of things do they need in their new place?
- I don't want them to feel like it's not home.
As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. So, incorporating thoughtful, cozy and nostalgic elements into their new place is essential to help ease the transition to senior living—whether it's independent living or assisted living.
Here are nine simple ideas to make a senior living space feel like home as well as must-have items to complement it (interior design experience not needed).
1. Add personal touches from home
First things first, start revamping their space by bringing in elements from your loved one's previous home.
Ask yourself questions like:
- Do they have a favorite furniture piece such as a rocking chair or lamp?
- Is there something they can't sleep without, i.e. a blanket, eye mask, pillow?
- Are there any family heirlooms they'd like to bring with them?
- Do they have any collectible items they'd like to decorate with?
- What photos do they cherish?
Adding these personal touches will help their new surroundings feel familiar and homey.
2. Buy fresh flowers when you visit
Bringing fresh flowers or a low-maintenance plant when you visit is an easy way to instantly freshen up the place. In addition to filling the room with a sweet aroma, flowers and plants can help improve air quality and lower stress levels among other benefits.
Pro tip: Flowers are powerful and can have an instant impact on happiness. Consider choosing your loved one's favorites or pick them based off their symbolic meaning (pink roses represent happiness). If you're getting a houseplant, consider succulents as they require minimal watering.
3. Incorporate must-have elements (new and old)
Instead of following the saying, out with the old, in with the new, mix treasured pieces with some new ones. Integrate new pillows, blankets, artwork and more to help pull everything together into one cohesive design.
Pro tip: Keep the overall style similar to their previous home's ambience. If it was traditional before, avoid getting items that are too modern. You want them to feel like they're at home even though it's a new dwelling.
4. Fill your beloved's space with photos
A picture is worth a thousand words, so why not decorate the place with photos of family and friends? Adding a photo collage will help them reminisce on wonderful memories that may have drifted away.
Don't forget to add picture frames throughout the area as well to spread the love and highlight various times in their life.
Pro tip: Use a combination of frames with different shapes and sizes. Before you hang them, map out on the floor the way you want the frames to look on the wall. This will avoid excess holes and headaches of "let's try that there instead."
5. Make it smell like home
Substitute the warm scent of a wick-burning candle with plug-in scented oils. From clean linen to tropical blossoms, there's a variety of different scents to choose from. So, picking out a specific one to your loved one's liking should be a breeze.
Pro tip: Concerned about your loved one lighting a candle and forgetting about it? You can blow that worry away with a battery-operated flameless candle option. It replicates the cozy feeling of dancing candles sans the stress of igniting a fire.
6. Incorporate neutrals
Neutrals, neutrals, neutrals—a staple in any home décor! This timeless color is visually calming and the perfect base for any home. A neutral color palette makes decorating more streamlined and allows for pops of color on the couch, throw pillows (check out this rainbow assortment of covers), artwork, rugs, plants, blankets and more.
Pro tip: For any fabric pieces you're incorporating, opt for easy-to-clean options like leather, microfiber and velvet. Harder to clean fabrics include rayon and sisal (common in rugs).
7. Include extra shelving space
Is your loved one a bookworm? Do they have a growing collection of stamps, coins or trinkets? Or do they just need the extra storage space due to downsizing?
Shelves are not only a fantastic way to show off treasured collectibles, but also can be utilized to hold common household products, smaller plants, additional lighting fixtures like a lamp, and other miscellaneous items. Consider shelves with multiple tiers for maximum storage.
Pro tip: This addition doesn't have to be a full standing bookshelf. You can include smaller options for desk organization, bathroom or kitchen counters, and awkward nooks.
8. Tie the space together with an area rug
A beautiful area rug can be just the thing needed to tie the whole look together. It can also elevate a space from a cookie-cutter design into one that's unique to the owner.
On top of the visual appeal, rugs can make the home easier to walk around, protect the flooring and help keep the area clean.
So if you're looking for the bow to your loved one's perfectly wrapped present, aka their new home, rugs are a classic choice.
Pro tip: Keep in mind mobility factors. Try choosing a rug that is thin, flatweave and/or low pile height (less than ¼ inch). Also consider avoiding bold or high contrast patterns as these can sometimes be disorienting and affect depth perception. Lastly and most importantly, don't forget about nonslip backing to prevent the rug from sliding.
9. Comfort yourself with technology for them
The ultimate sense of comfort, however, won't come from any furniture or decorations you add to your loved one's space; it will come from the peace of mind knowing they can receive immediate assistance if ever an emergency occurs.
With smart home technology like the Echo, the individual can call out to the device to dial 9-1-1 or any other emergency contact they need to get in touch with if they fall, can't get up or access their phone.
Pro tip: Technology can be a learning curve for older adults. To avoid any confusion, download the appropriate app on their phone, and take them through the entire set-up process and how to use the device.
Though it may take some time for your loved one to fully settle into their new environment, these ideas coupled with open communication can ease the process. From adding personal touches to simply bringing in some flowers, you can help make their new residence in a senior living community feel like home.
This article is brought to you by The Landing at Augusta Woods.
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