How to Handle Your Feelings After Caregiving Ends

There are often a lot of feelings around the transition to an assisted living community; you are not alone in that. Common feelings manifest as guilt, distress, and inadequacy. You are probably questioning if there was more you could have done or why you didn’t push harder to keep them at home. This is normal. However, we know that it can be overwhelming. So how do you deal with all of these feelings?

• Feel your feelings. We are designed to have feelings and are designed to feel them, even when it hurts and even when it is hard. Your feelings are natural; suppressing them will only hurt you in the future. 

• Visit often. In our experience, once caregivers see how happy their loved one is in their new home, they know they have made the right choice. Seeing your loved one interacting with others and continuing to build relationships is heartwarming. 

• Trust the process. Change is always difficult, especially when you are emotionally involved. Time will always help those difficult times fade away into happy ones. As you continue on the journey, trust that you are on the right path. 

While there is not a “right” way to feel after making such a big decision, know that all feelings are normal. If you have recently made the difficult decision to move your loved one to an assisted living community but are not sure which one is the right fit, we invite you to give us a call today.