Moving is stressful for anyone, but for people with memory loss, it can be especially overwhelming. Whether you’re a family member, caregiver, or someone beginning to plan for the future, understanding the real impact of moving someone with dementia can help you approach the process with compassion and preparation.
How Does Moving Someone With Dementia Impact Them?
Moving someone with dementia to a new home can increase their stress, making it harder for the individual to feel safe. For someone experiencing cognitive decline, familiar surroundings and consistent routines provide comfort and security. Changes of any kind can trigger disorientation, as new environments are more challenging for the brain to process. Even small changes like rearranging furniture or painting the walls a new color can cause agitation or confusion.
Physically, stress can show up as changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, or increased pacing. Emotionally, the person may become anxious, withdrawn, or even aggressive. The physical and emotional effects of moving a person with dementia aren’t simply resistance; they reflect how deeply dementia affects a person’s ability to process change. Recognizing these impacts helps families plan a move with greater sensitivity.
How Do You Safely Move Someone With Dementia?
There are times when moving a loved one with dementia becomes necessary, whether for safety, specialized care, or family support. While it’s impossible to prevent every moment of distress, some thoughtful strategies and helpful tips can make the process gentler.
Keep Their Routine
Routines are anchors for people with dementia. Maintaining familiar wake-up times, meal schedules, and evening rituals can reduce their confusion during a move. Disrupting these patterns often leads to agitation.
Even something as simple as having breakfast at the usual time or listening to a favorite radio program in the morning can make the day feel more predictable. The more familiar touchpoints you can preserve, the easier it is for your loved one to feel secure.
Explain Each Step Before You Move
Even if someone with memory challenges can’t recall every detail, calmly explaining what’s happening reassures them. A simple phrase like, “We’re going to a new place where you’ll be safe and comfortable,” can ease fear.
Not explaining what’s happening can leave someone with dementia feeling blindsided, which tends to increase their resistance and distress. Using short, clear sentences and repeating them gently when needed helps reinforce their understanding of what’s going on without being overwhelming.
Never Rush Them
Moves are often hectic, but rushing someone with dementia can make them feel overwhelmed or out of control. Allow extra time for each step, from packing familiar belongings to transitioning into a new space.
Patience helps preserve dignity, while pressure often sparks agitation or anger. Planning ahead so there’s no need to hurry and letting people move at their own pace can make the process far less stressful for everyone involved.
Bring Familiar Items
A favorite blanket, photos, or a familiar chair can make a new environment feel less foreign. These items create visual cues that promote comfort and help orient a person with dementia.
Without familiar items, the new space may feel cold or threatening, which will only increase stress. Placing familiar objects where they can be seen right away, like a family photo on the nightstand, helps the new environment feel like home more quickly.
Involve Them Where Possible
Offering people with dementia small ways to participate in the move, such as choosing which photo to hang first, provides a sense of control. Excluding them from the process can lead to feelings of helplessness or frustration. Involvement doesn’t need to be complicated. Even letting them hold a cherished keepsake during the move can provide comfort and reassurance that their voice still matters.
How Do You Move Someone With Dementia Who Refuses To Leave?
Sometimes, even with careful planning, your loved one may refuse to leave. Forcing the issue is not recommended, as it can cause trauma, fear, or aggression. Here are a few tips to help someone with dementia who doesn’t want to move:
- Stay Calm and Patient: Your calmness helps prevent escalating distress.
- Acknowledge Their Feelings: Saying, “I know this feels scary,” validates their emotions and builds trust.
- Offer Simple Choices: Instead of saying, “We’re leaving now,” try, “Would you like to bring your blue sweater or your green one?” This gives them a sense of control.
- Use Distraction or Redirection: Shifting focus to a pleasant activity like listening to music or looking at photos can ease resistance.
- Seek Professional Guidance if Needed: If refusal becomes persistent or unsafe, consulting a doctor or dementia care professional can provide safe strategies.
Refusal is often rooted in fear. Meeting that fear with empathy rather than force helps ensure the move is less traumatic and preserves your loved one’s dignity.
When Is the Best Time to Move Someone With Dementia?
Many people with dementia experience “sundowning” or increased confusion or agitation later in the day. Therefore, morning is when energy is higher and mood is more stable, which is often the best time to move someone with dementia. It’s also important to consider the stage of the disease. Earlier stages often allow for better adjustment to change, while later stages may require additional support and planning.
Planning a move around natural rhythms, such as after a good night’s sleep, or soon after a meal when your loved one feels calmer, can make the transition smoother. Some families also find it helpful to create a moving checklist that includes timing, medication schedules, and favorite personal items to ensure nothing important is overlooked.
Confidently Moving Your Loved One With Dementia To a Care Facility
Deciding to move a loved one with dementia into a care community is never easy. Families often wrestle with guilt, worry, and sadness. Yet, for many, there comes a point when specialized support is the best choice for quality of life and safety.
At Elder Care Alliance, we understand the trust you place in us. We create a compassionate environment where older adults can flourish. Our team is dedicated to easing the transition and doing everything possible to reduce the impact of moving for your loved one with dementia. If you’re considering the next step, we invite you to visit us, meet our community, and see if we’re the right fit for your family. Together, we can make the move a positive step toward comfort, safety, and peace of mind.
