You’ve moved into your new senior living home and are ready to focus on settling in. If you’re like most folks, you’re probably feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Both are normal. If you’ve been accustomed to living in your own home for any length of time, it’s only natural to undergo an adjustment period as you acclimate to your new routine and surroundings.
Senior living can be an exciting new chapter in your life’s journey. It offers opportunities to nurture your health and well-being, as well as chances to make new friends. Plus, it’s designed to offer the personalized assistance and support you may need so that you can use your energy and time as you wish. Afterall, you’ve earned the chance to enjoy and savor this time of life!
Let’s explore what you can expect as you settle into your new senior living home. We’ll also offer tips to help you make the most of your new senior living home. With a little effort, you’ll soon feel truly at home in your vibrant new community!
Settling into your new senior living home
What to expect your first week in senior living
For many new senior living residents, settling into a new senior living home feels a lot like the first week of college or sleep away camp. You’re a bit nervous, but also excited.
Change can be hard, but it’s also the one thing in life you can count on. Throughout life each of us has learned to accept, adapt, and even embrace change. We’re all more resilient than we often give ourselves credit for being. So, acknowledge your resilience and embrace this new life you’ve unlocked for yourself as a valued resident of The Birches.
Learn our advice for staying positive during this time of change, by reading our blog about Positive Thinking and Aging - A Shift in Your Mindset.
Our advice is to give yourself grace and allow yourself the time and space you need to feel comfortable and secure in your new surroundings.
We’ll be here to support you, every step of the way. We’re honored to help all our community members make successful transitions into our senior living community. We’ll be here for your loved ones, too.
During your first week here, you can expect us to check in on you regularly to offer our support and assistance. We’ll even just drop by to visit and see how you’re getting along.
Tips for settling in
Initially, your new senior living home may surprise you with its hustle and bustle, especially compared to your life at home.
Folks will stop by to check in on you, nurses will drop in to help you with your daily medications if needed. You’ll also get a visit from housekeeping to help you tidy up and see how they may be of further assistance.
Plus, outside your apartment, there’s a welcoming community waiting. Your fellow residents will be out and about, and our team are always present and available to assist and support our community members.
This new level of activity can take some getting used to. If you’re feeling daunted or even a bit overwhelmed, that’s ok! We encourage you to take things at a pace that is comfortable for you. It’s important to not rush this transition but to ease into it.
Developing a good sleep schedule and routine is key to your energy and quality of life as you age. But your sleep routine can easily be thrown off during times of transition. This article from the National Council on Aging offers helpful tips to promote healthy sleep habits in older adults.
Making your space feel like home is another great way to help you settle in. Learn our advice on making your new space your own with our recent blog, featuring tips for decorating your senior living apartment.
As a member of our community, our helpful, caring team members are here to support you. We’ll do our very best to make sure you feel secure and have everything you need to make your move a success. Simply ask if there is anything we can assist with or answer for you.
We promise you’ll soon start to settle in and feel confident navigating and fully joining in our community. We can even assist you with attending preferred activities, adjusting to your new schedule, and making new friends.
Two great ways to settle into your new life as a resident of The Birches are to participate in our activities and take advantage of our dining experience.
Dining is a pleasure at The Birches. We take care to offer our assisted living and memory care residents a culinary experience like no other. Meals at The Birches also offer a great chance to socialize, get to know your community better, and make new friends.
We also encourage our residents to provide their feedback to help us plan menus that include community favorites.
Be sure to check our activity calendars regularly to learn about our upcoming events and plan to attend. Our team will also be glad to help you plan for and attend our scheduled programs and activities. Just ask!
Make the most of your new senior living home
Senior living is about more than just getting by; it’s about enriching your life with exciting new opportunities and people - and enhancing your days with reinvigorated purpose and meaning.
When you join The Birches, you unlock a wealth of services and amenities that are designed to make your life here comfortable, enjoyable, and stress-free. If you have questions about our offerings, we'll be happy to assist you in understanding and taking full advantage of them.
If your loved one joins our community as a memory care resident, they’ll also gain instant access to an array of signature programs and services, designed to enhance quality of life, promote engagement, and empower our valued memory care community members.
Learn more about how we support the quality of life of our memory care residents at The Birches.
At The Birches, we believe in uplifting all our community members. That means meeting them where they are and empowering them to participate in the community so they can enjoy the rich, meaningful life they want.
With our exclusive Montessori lifestyle approach, our residents are empowered to make choices and take an active part in their lives here. We help each community member find their unique balance between security and independence.
Learn more about The Birches’ status as a credentialed Montessori Inspired Lifestyle community, as well as the many unique benefits this provides our residents.
No matter when, how, or why you join our community at The Birches, we’ll be here to support you to live your best life in your new senior living home.
Download your copy of our Embracing Change: Successful Transitions to Senior Living guide to learn more expert tips about settling into senior living. Contact us to discover how The Birches’ holistic, personalized approach to health and wellness helps all our residents thrive.
