When a parent or family member transitions into a memory care community, it is important that you develop a relationship with the caregivers and team members who work there. These individuals are the people that will be caring for your parent, so you want to feel comfortable and in touch with the staff at the community.
If you were previously the primary caregiver for your parent, transitioning to a more supporting role in their care can lead to mixed emotions. While you may be excited that they are getting the care they need, it is normal to feel anxious or even sad that you are passing the primary responsibilities over to someone else. For this reason, you must get to know and connect with the caregivers in your loved one’s memory care community.
With memory care communities across Alabama, Community Senior Life values the relationships between family members and community team members. To help you form these important bonds, we have gathered five tips that can help build connections.
Take the Time to Introduce Yourself
The first step to building any relationship is an introduction. During the move, you may be focused on transitioning your parent into their new living space. Once he or she is settled, however, seek out the caregivers and team members in the community and introduce yourself. By doing so, you can exchange names, share thoughts or concerns, and establish a foundation of trust and understanding.
Help Team Members Get to Know Your Parent
Once you have introduced yourself, another way to connect with the caregivers in your loved one’s memory care community is to help them get to know your parent. Share details with team members about specific preferences and personal history that will aid in smoothing the transition and help your parent receive more individualized care.
This helps you to form a relationship with your parent’s caregivers and helps the caregivers build their relationship with your mother or father. They will likely be better equipped to notice slight changes in your parent’s health and wellness and be able to provide more personal care.
Express an Interest in the Caregivers’ Lives
Everyone wants to feel valued and important. This presents another opportunity for you to deepen your relationship with your parent’s caregiver(s). By inquiring about their personal lives, you show that you care about them as individuals, not just the service they are providing.
It adds a layer of understanding if you know more about their life outside of the community. Maybe you have children the same age, or maybe they also cared for a parent with memory loss; these experiences can build a deeper connection and trust, leading to improved communication and care provided.
Volunteer at the Community
There are many benefits of family involvement in a senior living or memory care community. One advantage is getting to spend time with your parent, but you also get to know the team members who care for them on a daily basis.
Quality time is a vital aspect of any relationship. By volunteering, you naturally interact more with your parents’ caregivers and other team members.
Our Community Senior Life memory care communities – Haven Memory Care and Haven Memory Care on Halcyon – welcome family, friends, and guests to join us for activities and events in Alabama. Visit our website to learn more about volunteer opportunities at our memory care communities!
Thank Team Members
It is often the little things that make a significant difference. A simple “thank you” to the caregivers and team members in your parent’s senior living community can go a long way. You express that you appreciate the work that they are doing and the care they are providing. This small gesture can help you build your relationship with them and create mutual respect.
Memory Care at Community Senior Life
Haven Memory Care in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Haven Memory Care on Halcyon in Montgomery, Alabama, offer quality Alzheimer’s and dementia care. We know how overwhelming it can feel when a parent or loved one has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and we encourage and value the involvement of family members. The relationships formed between family members and team members allow for an easy transition into the community.
Community Senior Life wants to connect with you, your loved one, and your family to ensure we deliver compassionate, personalized care. Contact a member of our team to learn more about the memory care services and care options we offer.