The concept of “transfer trauma” is getting some well deserved attention from mainstream press, including a recent article published in U.S. News & World Report.
When an elderly loved one is no longer able to live independently, accommodations need to be made in order to keep them healthy and safe. For many, this takes the shape of relocating to a nursing home. However, this takes a big toll on people. A lot of people really struggle when going into some sort of nursing home or assisted living facility. It’s such a common occurrence that it even has a name. It’s referred to as “transfer trauma.”
Transfer trauma isn’t a new concept. However, as more and more people are tackling the subject of senior care for their family for the first time, it is just one more piece of information that needs to be learned.
There’s a lot of research out there that backs this up. For example, several studies have indicated that when someone with dementia is moved into a new location, their health–both physical and cognitive–tends to take a drastic decrease. Much of the time this will improve back to where things were prior to the move, but not always. Additionally, research indicates that people with dementia tend to stay healthier for longer when they are able to stay in a place that has been familiar to them for long periods of time prior to their fight with dementia began.
All of this underscores the importance of aging in place. Aging in place eliminates transfer trauma because your older loved one is given the opportunity to stay where they are as they grow older. For many, the preferred place to stay is in their own home. In-home care and home health care can both help your family to achieve this goal.
That’s not to say that no one should ever go into a nursing home. In some cases, it is absolutely essential. However, it’s not something that should just be decided upon lightly. Each situation should be weighed individually. What works for some isn’t necessarily the best decision for everyone.
We provide in-home care here at Paradise In-Home Care. Our goal is to bring high quality service to you–rather than having a loved one move out to get the help that they need. We know this isn’t the ideal answer for everyone, but for those that it’s right for, it can be life-changingly beneficial. Senior care shouldn’t make things worse for someone–like what someone might experience through transfer trauma. Unfortunately, this is the situation that many seniors often find themselves in, though. We want to help you avoid this if that’s your wish.
If you would like to learn more about how in-home care can help you get connected to needed help, please reach out. We can talk you through your choices over the phone or even go into detail with you through a free consultation. Our professional caregivers have years of combined experience and we would be thrilled to share this expertise with you with no obligation to you. Call us today to talk more.
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