I moved my mom from NH #1 to NH#2 within her first year. One thing that never occurred to me was needing to deal with her prescriptions but NH #2 told me this had to be done.
If they are in a facility, MediCARE is probably paying for their RXs and these are likely being done in 90 day blister packs held at the nurses station or in a locked closet nearby. The RXs are coming from an outside pharmacy that has a contract with the facility for this (& they may not be local). MediCARE will not easily pay for a duplicate set of meds. So that will be private pay RXs till her next 90 day refill which could be seriously $$$$. LSS You need to get her meds. I took a black sharpie and ziplocks to have the floor nurse put moms RXs in.
If she is on Medicaid (my mom was), that’s a stickier move to deal with. If she is, let us know, as there are things to do in advance that can make this easier.
I too went to NH#2 the afternoon before and set up her room, Tv, linens, curtains, photos hung, clothes into closet and bureau. Everything the same as in her old room. They were fine with doing this. So morning of move it was just her, overnight toiletries, pj & robe and everything into couple of big tote bags. The MC will likely require her to leave via a wheelchair even if she is totally ambulatory! Ask so that you can get her walker, cane etc into your car ahead of dealing with wheelchair.
my mom had a wreath on her door, I got a similar one to hang at the new NH. She was big on florals so always could ID which room was hers.
Getting the room set up first. If possible taking her out for "lunch, shopping or other all day outing would be good. Someone can move all her items from the first facility to the new one. If possible I would try to get a room on the same side of the hall. If she currently is 5 doors down the hall on the right if she can be in a room that is 5 doors down the hall on the right would be good. It will take a bit of getting used to but she will adapt. The staff in Memory Care is used to moves like this and they will help her.
The steps involved are the same as with any other move. Get her new room set up completely at the new MC before you bring her over. So if you can get a family member to sit with her in the dining room or activity room of the new MC while you are setting up her new room, that would be ideal. Keep her distracted, in other words, while you set up her new room so she can segue right into it w/o seeing a huge difference, if that makes sense. That's what we did with my mother when we transitioned her from regular AL into their Memory Care bldg. My DH unloaded her things from the apartment in the AL and moved them across the parking lot into her new room in the MC; hung the pictures, the clock, put her clothing away in the closet, while I arranged a van to pick her up from the rehab SNF and transport her to the MC. I met the van at the MC and sat with mom in the dining room/activity room where she met the residents and the activities director. She was shown around and given lunch, etc.
I don't know how advanced your parent's dementia is at this point? Mom's dementia was moderate, and she was pretty easy going at the time we moved her, so the transition was fairly smooth & easy. A lot depends on YOUR attitude too, and how you present things to your parent. Be upbeat and smiling, etc. Hopefully you can set up her new room the same way the old one was set up, so she feels like it's an identical situation she's moving into. We all know it's NOT, but it's the best possible situation you're trying to create.
Wishing you the best of luck; I know how very hard ALL of this is, so my heart goes out to you. I hope things work out better in the new MC. We've been very fortunate with mom's place; they've treated us wonderfully and she's had a great level of care & attention there, for the most part
If they are in a facility, MediCARE is probably paying for their RXs and these are likely being done in 90 day blister packs held at the nurses station or in a locked closet nearby. The RXs are coming from an outside pharmacy that has a contract with the facility for this (& they may not be local). MediCARE will not easily pay for a duplicate set of meds. So that will be private pay RXs till her next 90 day refill which could be seriously $$$$. LSS You need to get her meds. I took a black sharpie and ziplocks to have the floor nurse put moms RXs in.
If she is on Medicaid (my mom was), that’s a stickier move to deal with. If she is, let us know, as there are things to do in advance that can make this easier.
I too went to NH#2 the afternoon before and set up her room, Tv, linens, curtains, photos hung, clothes into closet and bureau. Everything the same as in her old room. They were fine with doing this. So morning of move it was just her, overnight toiletries, pj & robe and everything into couple of big tote bags. The MC will likely require her to leave via a wheelchair even if she is totally ambulatory! Ask so that you can get her walker, cane etc into your car ahead of dealing with wheelchair.
my mom had a wreath on her door, I got a similar one to hang at the new NH. She was big on florals so always could ID which room was hers.
If possible taking her out for "lunch, shopping or other all day outing would be good. Someone can move all her items from the first facility to the new one.
If possible I would try to get a room on the same side of the hall. If she currently is 5 doors down the hall on the right if she can be in a room that is 5 doors down the hall on the right would be good.
It will take a bit of getting used to but she will adapt.
The staff in Memory Care is used to moves like this and they will help her.
I don't know how advanced your parent's dementia is at this point? Mom's dementia was moderate, and she was pretty easy going at the time we moved her, so the transition was fairly smooth & easy. A lot depends on YOUR attitude too, and how you present things to your parent. Be upbeat and smiling, etc. Hopefully you can set up her new room the same way the old one was set up, so she feels like it's an identical situation she's moving into. We all know it's NOT, but it's the best possible situation you're trying to create.
Wishing you the best of luck; I know how very hard ALL of this is, so my heart goes out to you. I hope things work out better in the new MC. We've been very fortunate with mom's place; they've treated us wonderfully and she's had a great level of care & attention there, for the most part