Alzheimer's: Smoothing the transition on moving day

Moving is often difficult — but it's especially challenging for a person with Alzheimer's disease. Add familiar touches to make the transition as comfortable as possible.

Moving from one home to another can trigger anxiety for anyone. For a person with Alzheimer's disease, however, a changed routine and an unfamiliar environment can be extremely stressful. If you're helping a loved one with Alzheimer's move to a new home or into a care facility, make the transition as comfortable as possible.

Plan ahead

If possible, talk to your loved one about preferences for living arrangements while he or she can still make choices. Explore all of your housing options together.

"Start talking long before a move is imminent," says Glenn Smith, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. "It's harder to make guesses later about what your loved one would want."

Add familiar touches

As moving day draws near, don't dwell on it too much. Simply reassure your loved one — and yourself — that everything will be fine.

Before the move, make your loved one's new room or space look and feel as familiar as possible. Decorate the area with a treasured quilt, a shelf with special items, and add a favorite chair or other meaningful possessions. Familiar belongings can trigger feelings of ownership and boost your loved one's sense of security.

Also stock the space with pictures of family and friends, memory books or photo albums. Reminiscing about the past can help a person with Alzheimer's bring important memories into the present. Label the pictures to help staff members or others identify the people in your loved one's life and encourage conversations about the past.