Ways to Help Your Elders Transition into a Nursing Home
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on June 10, 2025
Caring for your aging relatives or friends can be an undertaking with several tough decisions. Sometimes, it is not feasible to care for an aging loved one in their home. Time, money, and health are always factors when deciding whether or not to be someone’s caretaker. A personal healthcare assistant, a nursing home, or an assisted living facility are all options for our aging loved ones. However, the transition to any type of care can be difficult, especially if it moves your loved one out of their home. There are several things you can do to help make the process easier.
5 Ways to Help Transition Aging Loved Ones into a Nursing Home
1. Give them time to adjust to the idea before moving.
Don’t expect your loved one to move right when you’ve made the decision to continue their care in a facility. Introduce the subject gently and positively before you start the process of finding a care center so that they do not feel as though they don’t have a choice. Allowing them to get used to the idea of living somewhere else will make the process easier in the future. They can come to terms with the transition on their own time, and when the time comes to choose a facility, they might even look forward to it.
2. Allow them to have a choice.
When it comes to picking out a care center, listen to your loved ones. Finding a facility where they feel that they fit in is very important to the transition and to future happiness. However, even beyond the initial move, keep listening to their thoughts and concerns. If they find they don’t like staying where they are, look for alternatives. No one wants to feel forced into or trapped in a strange place. Your loved one’s happiness should be a top priority. Listening to their experience is also one of the first steps to identifying nursing home abuse or neglect.
3. Include them in the packing process.
When the decision has been made for a facility, start planning for important items that they may overlook. Medications, toiletries, and personal care items should be a priority, but allow them to choose their clothes, bedding, decor, and other items that are important to them. If your loved one isn’t ready to part with some of their stuff that can’t move with them, it may help with the transition to store those items in a storage unit until they are. Remember, just because it isn’t important to you, doesn’t mean that it isn’t important to your loved one. Storing items instead of selling them can mitigate the feeling that they are going away from their home forever and help prevent resentful feelings and feelings of loss from developing.
4. Help them introduce themselves to their neighbors.
Once your loved one settles into their new home, familiarize yourself with the area and the staff. Accompanying your loved one to lunch, for a walk around the grounds, and to introduce themselves to their neighbors may help with any anxiety they have about their new space. Making friends, encouraging involvement, and identifying common areas can help them engage with their surroundings and the other people around them.
5. Visit them often.
Visiting and engaging with your loved ones can be a great help in the transition, but should also be a staple even after they settle into their new space. Setting up scheduled visits will help create stability in your relationship, but it will also keep you in the loop regarding the care and comfort of your loved one. Nursing home neglect can happen quietly, so having face-to-face visits with your loved one can be the first line of defense against any neglect that goes on. Ask them about their experience, and be sure that they remain comfortable where they are.
Call Cooper & Friedman if Your Suspect Nursing Home Neglect
Transitioning your loved one into a nursing home or assisted living facility can come with challenges. But, safety and wellbeing should never be anything less than your #1 priority. If your loved one experiences neglect or abuse at the hands of a nursing home or other facility, call Cooper & Friedman. We understand that these cases are difficult to talk about and navigate. That’s why we’re here. And, if you do not know whether or not your case is viable, call us for a free consultation. We’re here to help!
If you or someone you love has experienced nursing home neglect in the State of Kentucky and are in need of an experienced elder law attorney, give the lawyers at the Cooper & Friedman law firm a call. The attorneys at Cooper and Friedman PLLC have over 50 years of combined experience defending the rights of victims. Contact us with questions you might have or schedule a free case consultation with an attorney by calling 502-459-7555 today.