How Transitioning Into Assisted Living Will Go For Your Loved One

Mike Nelson is the Sales & Marketing Manager at Brookdale Camelot Medina, a Brookdale Senior Living assisted living facility in Northeast Ohio. We sat down with him to have a conversation about his line of work, his facility, and how the process of moving someone into assisted living works there. 

Moving into a senior community or assisted living facility can be confusing for everyone involved; family, friends, and the potential resident are all required to learn about so many different options. Assisted living facilities, in particular, offer a lot of flexibility. 

Here’s a look into the process of helping a loved one transition or transitioning yourself to living in an assisted living community with the help of Mike Nelson, who sees it firsthand on a daily basis.

Before the Transition

At Brookdale Camelot Medina, Nelson said that their staff speaks with potential residents and their families over varying lengths of time; he explained that it can take as little as a few days or as long as a few years to get residents to the day they move in. 

The planning of the actual move is up to residents and their families. Though doing the heavy lifting yourself may seem like the most convenient option, hiring a senior move manager can do wonders by sorting through belongings, removing unwanted items, packing, and arranging for a professional moving company. Arranging for outside help can also ensure that family relationships stay positive, as emotions can run high during this kind of change. 

In regards to senior move managers, Nelson says that “the sooner clients call, the better!” They make the transition easier for everyone involved. During his discussions with potential residents, he often mentions local senior move manager Smooth Transitions and gives the family an overview of how they would assist.

During this period pre-move, Nelson and his colleagues educate and guide the families into choosing what is best for the resident, which isn’t always assisted living. Everyone has a unique set of needs, and facilities like Brookdale Camelot Medina recognize that. Care needs and preferences are different in each individual situation. This is why many assisted living communities offer customizable care plans, where the resident, family, and facility team work together to build a personalized plan.

During & After the Transition

Whether the family is moving the resident in or a professional takes care of transporting their belongings, the process of moving into an assisted living facility is similar to moving into a new house or apartment. Moving can be stressful on its own, but it can be relieving to know that you aren’t tackling a completely new situation.

Once the resident moves in, their care plan begins. These plans aren’t set in stone; if at any point, the resident is able to change the bounds of their plan without having to move facilities or even rooms. This means that the assisted living model “extends the length of your stay,” as Nelson said. If you are a family member of a resident, you can rest assured that your loved one will be taken care of in their new space no matter how their needs change. 

Advice for Those Considering Assisted Living

In Nelson’s view, the most important thing that potential residents should know is that assisted living will not remove your self-sufficiency; “community life is not meant to restrict you, but to enhance your independence.” From the inside, living in an assisted living facility is similar to renting an apartment. The main difference is that you can reach out for in-unit health care easily if it’s needed.

Nelson also stresses the importance of “doing your homework” by researching the different facility types and options in the area. There are a lot of great communities available, including within Northeast Ohio. By spending some time learning about each of them, you’ll be able to make the most informed decision for you or your loved one.

The success stories and happy comments from residents Nelson hears within the facility make the difficult process of transitioning into senior care worth it. He often hears remarks from residents stating they “should have done it years ago” and families saying they can sleep again at night. 

In one particular case, Nelson recalls the daughter of a potential resident whom he had been speaking with for two and a half years. Before he moved in, he was just sitting around by himself, spending his time doing nothing. Now, he has lots of people to be around and plenty of activities to do in his new home. 

About Brookdale Camelot Medina

Brookdale Camelot Medina is an assisted living facility in Medina, Ohio. They offer various types of assisted living and care options, with the exception of memory care. The community includes many independent apartments alongside assisted living units; these apartments have balconies, walk-in closets, and more to make residents feel like they are living in their own home. 

This location is led by executive director Heather Kirba, who brings expertise to the community having a background in nursing. Because of this, the facility is run with the clinical component top of mind for those who need more extensive care. 

Nelson acknowledges the benefit of working with seniors by the unending wisdom he has received from Brookdale Camelot Medina’s residents. “It’s incredibly rewarding to work with seniors,” he says. “If you take the time to get to know these residents, you will be rewarded, 100 percent.”

Beyond residents, the staff at Brookdale Camelot Medina embody the idea of a community; multiple staff members have been on their team for upwards of ten years. The residents can get to know these wonderful people and build relationships with them that last their entire stay. Similarly, this facility is the one of the only in the area that has not hired an outside agency; each staff member is a part of the Medina team. “Our community combines quality business practices with compassion, and those two things are essential in our field.”

Learn more about Brookdale Camelot Medina on their website or Facebook page. 

Looking to move a loved one into an assisted living facility? We can make the transition easier. Contact us today to get started.