You want what is best for your loved one. That is why you initially took on the role of being their primary caregiver. However, now your parent or family member is moving into a senior living community so they can receive more comprehensive care and support.
Even though this is a significant change for your loved one, it is a transition for you as well. You are transitioning from being their primary caregiver to their care advocate. While your daily duties and responsibilities may shift, it is important to remember that you still play a vital role in your loved one’s life.
With senior living communities throughout Alabama, Community Senior Life is here to help guide both you and your loved one through each step of the senior living journey, making it as smooth of a transition as possible. As a starting point, we are sharing tips on settling into your new role as your loved one’s senior care advocate.
How Your Role is Changing
As your loved one’s primary caregiver, you were responsible for providing direct care and helping them with the activities of daily living. As their senior care advocate, you are now responsible for delegating these tasks.
The main difference between being a caregiver and a senior care advocate is the way care is provided. Even though you are no longer providing physical care and support, you are responsible for making sure that everything regarding their medical care is taken care of correctly.
Utilizing Your Resources
When you first took on the role of your parent or family member’s primary caregiver, you likely did your research to learn as much as you about any health conditions they may have, tips, questions, and more. More than likely, you also researched how to best transition into this new caregiving role. This should also be the first step in becoming your loved one’s senior care advocate.
While you probably have a good understanding of your loved one’s health conditions, it is beneficial to continue researching and learning more about it. By doing so, you may learn more about the type of care they need, how their condition could progress, and even new research developments.
Another element of being a senior advocate is to ensure they are receiving and using any benefits, insurances, or finances to their advantage when it comes to paying for their care. A few good places to start could include:
Additionally, reach out to your parent or family member’s new senior living community. Ask them questions to better understand how this transition will benefit your loved one and what type of care and support the community is providing.
As your loved one’s senior care advocate, it is your responsibility to make sure they are getting the care and support they need. Use the community as a resource and regularly talk to the team members to stay up-to-date on health changes, community news, and more.
Stay Active in Your Loved One’s Life
A common fear that some individuals have when moving to a senior living community is being forgotten by their family and loved ones. Reassure your loved one that living arrangements are changing, but you will still be present in their life.
Visit your parent or family member as often as you can in their new community. Participate in community activities, enjoy a meal, or simply spend quality time together. As an advocate for your older parent or loved one, you want to ensure that they continue to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle – whatever that looks like for them.
By continuing to visit and spend time with your loved one, you are helping to ease their transition into a senior living community and your transition into their senior care advocate. As healthcare becomes more complex and older adults live longer, care advocates, whether a family member or hired professional, become critical members of the senior’s support network.
Our team at Community Senior Life is here to help you through each step of the transition process and beyond. If you have questions, we invite you to contact a member of our team to learn more about our senior living communities in Alabama.