Tips for Moving Elderly Parents From New York to New Jersey

Being the oldest child or designated caregiver of elderly parents can be a tremendous responsibility. It’s common to feel pressured when trying to help them make the best decisions, and even more so if you have to make decisions for them due to debilitating conditions. Living situations are among the most sensitive issues when caring for elderly parents, especially if they’re adversed to a move. Even a move of a relatively short distance from a home in New York to an assisted living community in New Jersey can be a tricky subject to approach, and things only get more complicated when factoring in assistance like Medicaid/Medicare. The following are some essential bits of advice for a successful move.

Be Sensitive

There’s likely no way to avoid the emotional roller coaster that will come with the idea of moving an elderly parent, especially to a retirement community or nursing facility. You’ll need to be prepared for feelings of hesitation or even regret that can accompany the move. Particularly in a situation where the parent is against the move or is being moved into a new facility on their own, you’ll need to be patient in showing them that it is the right decision and have positive aspects to point out about their new home.

Get Support

Support from the rest of your family and friends is obviously helpful, but you’ll likely need more than that. Luckily, the NJ area has plenty of great options for senior care and excellent doctors ranging from the physical therapy offices in Riverdale to the neurosurgical office in Morristown, NJ. When looking for the right home, you’ll want to ask the staff of each possible location for reference numbers to get a better idea about the people running the facility and the quality of care you can expect.

It can also be a good idea to speak to any new residents of the home who are willing to share their experiences. They can provide you with the most honest information about the home you’re likely to find, and speaking with any of their family members may provide some great insight into your own situation. Getting the support of those who know you and your parent’s situation can do more good than you may realize.

Speak With Social Workers

Moving states can always create issues with any benefits your parent(s) may be receiving, so it’s best to know what you’re getting into as soon as possible. You’ll want to contact the proper County Board of Social Services to get in touch with a representative. They should be able to forward you to the social worker at the facility your parent will be moving to and you can work on getting your parent’s Medicaid/Medicare transfer approved.

Encourage Growth

While the move will undoubtedly be scary, and some will react to it better than others, it’s always important to emphasize that there are opportunities available. A senior living facility is full of potential new friends, and everyone there is in a similar situation in one way or another. The faster your parent(s) can begin connecting with others, the easier their transition will be.

These facilities also offer plenty of options for taking up new hobbies. Any of these facilities will have activities such as bingo, craft groups, board/card games, book clubs, and more.

Retirement communities with more active residents will often have fitness and outdoor activities like gardening, golf, and shuffleboard. In many situations, a care facility will be able to offer your parent(s) more than you would be able to on your own. Helping them see the move as an improvement will ease everyone’s feelings and empower them during their transition.