Moving a loved one into a nursing home is an incredibly tough decision, but often the best of ac-tion for both you and them. They will get the care, support, and social contact that is so important for seniors, while you will get peace of mind knowing that they will be looked after. Additionally, many seniors find a new lease of life once they settle in the nursing home. It can be tough at first, though, and you will want to know the best ways to support your loved one during this time. Read on for a few tips that should help.

The most important step to take is to be in regular communication. You do not want them to feel like they have been dumped off and forgotten about, so you should check in regularly, whether this is a visit or phone call. Additionally, if they do not know how to use smartphones and other tech then it is a good idea to teach them. You could then arrange regular video calls, involve them in family group text messages and generally help them to feel more connected.

When you do visit them, it is important to line up the fun and enjoyable activities that you can do together and to leave the nursing home if it is safe to do so. This could also involve meeting up with other family members so that they can enjoy spending time with people outside of the home. It can be easy for seniors to feel trapped in a nursing home, so getting out is important for their mental health.

As mentioned in the intro, nursing homes can sometimes give seniors a new lease of life, and this comes from the activities and socialization that is possible. Sometimes, they may require a gen-tle nudge to participate and engage with others, but this will be key for settling and for their own wellbeing. If it helps, you may be able to join in the activities and socialize with the other residents to make it easier.

It is also vital that you listen to their concerns and ensure that they feel important, loved, and heard. Nursing home neglect and abuse can be an issue, especially in facilities that are under-staffed. If your loved one reports neglect or abuse, you need to listen to what they say and contact a nursing home abuse lawyer. They will be able to hold the responsible party/parties responsible and seek justice for your loved one. 

It can be hard for a senior to feel at home in a nursing home to start with. This is why you need to help them to feel settled, which you can do by bringing in items from their own home to decorate the space. You might also find small touches like bringing them their favorite food, bringing fam-ily photos, and plants can make a big difference.

Hopefully, this post will give you a few ideas and help you to get your loved one settled in a nurs-ing home.