When your aged parents are getting ready to move into senior housing, it's important for you to realize that this transition can be a challenge. While your folks will almost certainly make a number of close friends in their new accommodations and enjoy the many perks that senior housing provides, they can also feel a little sad about leaving their longtime home behind. You can provide emotional support during this phase, but also pitch in to provide some products that will make your parents feel right at home. It's common knowledge that family photos and certain decor items will make the new living arrangements feel like home; here are some other things to add.
Scented Candles
Do your research to determine what kind of scented candles your parents used at home, and then do your best to track some down in the local stores. Placing these candles in your parents' new home when they arrive — or before, if you're primarily looking after the move and have early access to the space — can instantly make each of the rooms feel homey. Pay attention to the scented candles that are burned at certain times of the year to attempt to match them correctly. For example, your parents might use a pumpkin pie spice scent or a pine scent in the fall or winter.
Favorite Snacks
Your parents can instantly feel at home when they arrive to their new senior housing and find that the pantries are stocked with their favorite snacks. While the facility's dining room will take care of meals and some snacks, it's always pleasant to have some personal snacks stored in the room. Think about the special items that your parents have always had nearby, whether it's a certain type of cookie or cracker, a type of bottled beverage or a bowl of fresh fruit.
Special Plants
Some senior housing communities have gardens for the residents, while others do not. If the housing your parents are moving into is in the former category and it's the right season for planting, put together a selection of seeds for your parents' favorite herbs and veggies. For example, if your father always cherished his tomato garden, some seeds will remind him that he can grow tomatoes in this new home, too. If there isn't a garden for residents, a small indoor planter of some favored herbs can help to make the space feel like home.
Contact a senior housing facility like Stillwaters Colonial Residence for more information on ways you can customize your parents' new home
