October 27, 2020

Finding Joy: What to Bring When Moving to a Memory Care Community

About Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living offers multiple care levels for seniors in more than 600 communities nationwide. Brookdale helps you find the right care plan for yourself or your loved one. With amenities such as transportation services, salons and private dining rooms and activities such as gardening, fitness classes and trivia nights Brookdale caters to a wide range of interests and needs.

brookdale associate talking to senior couple

With many of us spending more time at home these days, you may be exploring new ways to make your space feel more comfortable and functional.

With her simple organization strategy, the KonMari Method™, Marie Kondo encourages tidying up and de-cluttering your home by category (like clothing, books, papers) — not room by room — and to keep only the things that speak to your heart and spark joy.

With many of us spending more time at home these days, you may be exploring new ways to make your space feel more comfortable and functional.

Finding comfort in the familiar

At first glance, it may not seem like Kondo’s philosophy of tidying up is relevant to planning a move to a memory care community. But Kondo’s advice to surround yourself with things that bring joy resonates as great guidance for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care residents and their families. For people living with dementia, familiar things spark joy.

Can it be that simple? Surround yourself with things that spark joy. Of course, there are many things to consider when preparing for a transition to a dementia care community, but what to bring is an essential part of that move.

As you and your loved one sort through a lifetime of belongings, choosing items that bring him or her joy can be a north star by which to navigate tough choices about what to bring and what to let go.

Tips to help with the transition to a memory care community

Keep in mind this is not the time to redecorate. You want to create a comfortable and familiar space. The more this new space looks, feels, smells and sounds like home to your family member, the better they will adjust to their new surroundings.

Making this new space similar to the old space is comforting. Here are a few tips on what to bring:

1. Plan to set up the new space so that it’s familiar.

Set up the new apartment as close to the layout at home as possible. For example, put the nightstand on the same side of the bed, and decorate the room with familiar items. Consistency helps those living with dementia manage daily tasks with more ease.

2. Keep the room simple.

Allow for plenty of room for clear, wide walking paths. Bring a favorite pillow, blanket and chair, but skip bulky pieces of furniture like large dressers.

3. Include favorite personal items.

Again, choose items that bring your family member joy. Maybe it’s an art piece, a souvenir from a favorite trip or family photographs. Photos are a great way to help residents connect with their new environment, their family and friends.

4. Some items will need to be left behind.

You should avoid anything breakable or irreplaceable, like family heirlooms or high-valued jewelry. And in keeping with another tip from Marie Kondo, use what you already own. Avoid purchasing too many new items until you get settled in and see what your family member may still need.

5. Ask about your community’s policy on medications and medical equipment.

Most of the time, medications, even over-the-counter supplements, need to be approved and ordered by the health and wellness director.

Ultimately, it’s about creating a space where residents feel at home. When we train our Clare Bridge associates, we often ask them, ‘What does the word ‘home’ mean to you?’ The answers aren’t usually about a specific location. Instead, home is a feeling or a connection to favorite things. We remind them that the same is true for our residents.

For our residents, home is about their favorite keepsakes, enjoying their favorite foods, in the company of people who know them well and with a sense that they are being heard. It’s where they have a voice.

If you or your family are facing a dementia diagnosis, or you want to learn more about how to support those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, we can help. Click here for more articles on Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Brookdale is not endorsed or sponsored by, or affiliated with KonMari Media Inc. KONMARI and KONMARI METHOD are registered trademarks of KonMari Media Inc.