Healthy Family Relationships: How to Stay Close After the Move

To maintain healthy family relationships after you move into senior living in Kingwood, TX, have scheduled communication, incorporate family into your new routine, make visits meaningful and enjoyable, and share memories and create new ones together. An excellent senior living community, such as Cypress Woods Senior Living, can facilitate these things.

According to NIC MAP, the 80+ population will grow by more than a quarter in the next five years, and it'll nearly double by 2035. This means that it'll be the norm to see older adults move out of long-term homes and into senior living communities.

Despite it being commonplace, senior relocations can put a strain on family relationships. And without guidance, hard work, and determination, older adults can quickly find themselves without a good support network.

Here's how you can maintain healthy family relationships, even if you move to a community in Kingwood, TX.

How Does Moving Affect a Family?

Moving can affect a family in multiple ways:

• Emotionally
• Logistically
• Relationally

In addition, your loved ones may experience a mix of emotions, such as guilt and relief. And you yourself may feel both excited about new opportunities and grief over leaving your long-time home.

Because this move is so significant, it's important to be proactive in maintaining bonds.

What Is Relocation Syndrome?

Relocation syndrome is also called transfer trauma. It's a stress response that happens to some older adults when they move from one environment to another, such as from their long-term home to a senior living community.

Symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Depression
• Sleep issues
• Withdrawal

It's important for loved ones to understand relocation syndrome and provide the right support. Staff members can also offer emotional support and help with establishing familiar routines.

How to Stay Close to Your Family After a Move to Senior Living

Staying close after moving can be difficult, but it's not impossible. These are the tips to follow.

Have Scheduled Communication

People lead normal yet busy lives, and this can get in the way of things. But consistent social connection is a vital protective factor for seniors, so one of our best senior communication tips is to maintain regular communication by scheduling it.

Suggestions include:

• Weekly video calls
• Daily check-in texts
• Sunday phone chats

These routines can bridge physical gaps, as the scheduled interactions can become a comforting ritual.

Incorporate Family Into Your New Routine

Luckily, having a family connection in senior living is easy to do. You can intentionally involve your loved ones in your new daily or weekly routines, such as:

• Inviting family to attend community events
• Joining family celebrations virtually
• Sharing activity calendars to plan visits around special programs

If they aren't able to visit, then you can still involve them in your daily life by doing small things like sending photos from a new hobby. Not only can this help maintain ties, but it can also give your loved one peace of mind knowing that you're adjusting and thriving.

Make Visits Meaningful and Enjoyable

Chances are, your loved ones will come visit you at Cypress Woods Senior Living. In that case, you should make every visit meaningful and enjoyable. You should plan activities ahead of time, such as:

• Having a meal
• Walking the community grounds
• Participating in an on-site activity together

For better emotional wellness for seniors, you can even create traditions!

Share Memories and Create New Ones Together

Just because you're far apart from your family doesn't necessarily mean you can't have good social well-being in Texas. You can keep your family bonds strong by sharing stories, family photos, or memory albums through group texts. Also, you can create new memories by hosting things like virtual game nights or attending community events together. 

Mixing old and new memories can be a great way to keep everyone together!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Are the 5 Characteristics of a Healthy Family?

The five characteristics of a healthy family are:

1. Open communication: Helps families discuss expectations, ease concerns, and maintain strong bonds despite physical distance.
2. Emotional support: The senior feels valued and understood during the transition.
3. Trust: Both the senior and their loved ones feel confident in the decision to move into a safe and supportive environment.
4. Shared values: Helps everyone stay aligned.
5. Adaptability: Enables the family to adjust to new routines, new roles, and the changing dynamics that come with senior living.

What Are the 4 Pillars of a Happy Family?

The four pillars of a happy family can give seniors confidence that moving into senior living doesn't diminish family bonds. They are:

1. Connection: Regular visits, phone calls, or video chats help maintain emotional closeness.
2. Stability: Reassurance that even though the senior is living elsewhere, family traditions and relationships continue.
3. Communication: This is crucial in expressing feelings about the transition, addressing concerns, and celebrating milestones.
4. Shared purpose: Helps families remain united in supporting the senior's health, comfort, and independence.

What Are the 5 Rs of Family Engagement?

Family engagement is crucial if you want to remain close and connected with your loved ones. The five Rs of family engagement are:

1. Respect: This involves acknowledging the senior's needs, preferences, and dignity throughout the transition.
2. Responsiveness: Family members stay attentive to emotional, social, or health-related changes as the senior adapts to the new environment.
3. Relationships: These are maintained through consistent communication and meaningful time together.
4. Responsibility: Ensure that the senior receives proper support, both from family and the community's care team.
5. Reflection: Encourages families to openly discuss what's working, what's challenging, and how to stay connected in meaningful ways.

Maintain Healthy Family Relationships

Having healthy family relationships can make all the difference when you're in a new environment, even if you love it there. Knowing that you have your loved ones to rely on can give you peace of mind, and it can even make the transition easier.

So implement our tips and make an effort to keep family ties strong. When you have each other as support, you can get through anything.

Contact us now if you're interested in learning more about senior living in Kingwood, TX. Cypress Woods Senior Living takes our residents on seasonal outings so they can see Kingwood and beyond, and have unforgettable experiences.