Soon we will be moving my 86 year old MIL into an assisted living facility. She will have a small studio - more of a room w/ a bathroom than an apartment. We will bring some of her personal items, but most of what she owns will not be fit to bring. She was very frugal and cleanliness was/is an issue so we cannot bring any of her linens or furniture. Her bed pillows are so thin you wouldn't know they were pillows and are probably 40 years old (seriously). I tried to replace them, but she refused. Knowing there is no way we or the facility will let them move with her we will be buying her new items. I'm looking for advice on what to shop for - colors that work for aging & health, things that are easy to use (lamps with pulls vs. twist), storage, any items to buy I may not know I should. Arthritis in her hands will be a consideration. Taking her shopping physically or on-line is not something for us to do at this time. Here are some things my sister-in-law and I will be looking for:
Furniture -
Twin bed (should we get an adjustable one now?)
Small table (for paperwork, snacks, etc)
Chair
Floor lamp
Table lamp
Nightstand
Chest of drawers
Linens
Towels
Comforter
Sheets (no silk, I'm assuming so she won't slide out of bed!)
Shower curtain
Dish towels
Throw
Misc.
Clock
Hamper
Dishes (very few)
Silverware (very few)
Waste baskets (for bathroom and main area)
If there is a way to clean an old blanket, or cut up some of the items, then re sew into a quilt or lap blanket might be comforting. Hang her favorite pictures, print, family pictures on the wall where she is likely to sit and can see them.
Consider painting a wall her favorite color.
If you can get a nice new easy chair with an electronic lift--they are wonderful and appreciated by elders. Bed, bath, beyond has some nice magazine, remote, phone holders that can hang on side of chair and make items convenient for her.
As for dishes and flatware --bring the ones she loves from home...no matter how much you like or don't like them, her own glasses, cups, saucer.
Again, it's hard to start over and the more things she brings from her old home, and mixed with new, the more comforting it will be.
Maybe hang some secure hooks on the wall, low where she can easily reach for her to hang jacket, sweater, hat.
Look for lamps that she can just push a switch at the base and can turn on and off easily.
A TV you can mount on the wall low for her would be nice and conserves space.
I'd just keep in mind "mom's" taste and not yours...no matter how much we're tempted to decorate to our taste.
Best wishes to mom in her new digs.
If I had to do this over, I would have gone to the Hospice Thrift store I've since discovered and bought her stuff there. It's from the same era as she owned, just cleaner, but nothing upholstered because of mites and bedbugs. Buy old pretty dishes and teacup there too. The only thing that was "hers" was the new family portrait on the wall and the college diplomas I had remade by the college. She had lost hers decades before, and was still in shape enough to recognize them.
When you have everything set up and move her in, ask if it suits her and would she arrange it differently a week later. Please don't be heartbroken if she doesn't like it. You can make it work eventually. Don't hang all the art ahead of time & ask where she wants it. "I wasn't sure where to put this, what do you think/where would you like it?" Give her some control, it's important.
A few ideas - A lift chair. Sam's club has them for much less than other places. The limited colors (if you go this route) will be the start of color selections for MIL's new room. At MIL's place,we have dishes/bowls/glassware for 4. Truly, only the glasses get used. I agree with the idea of going to a thrift shop for that type of thing, the selections near me are terrific and the cost is nothing.
Add an inexpensive vase so flowers arriving wrapped in paper have someplace to go . Don't forget health and beauty items --- body wash/lotion, shampoo, dental stuff, etc. Dish detergent, sponges. In both places we used, linens and shower curtains were provided. Make sure EVERYTHING is washable. And don't be afraid to take things home or use the machines at the AL to wash items. The staff doesn't have time to do that. Will you need a shower floor mat? Or something to step on when exiting the shower? Add a non breakable bathroom cup. I wouldn't spend a fortune on the comforter, they get hard use in a facility. One of the off price chains might be better so you don't gulp when it's time to toss it ( stains, communicable diseases, etc). Keep the TV stuff VERY simple. Actually, if you can get an old fashioned TV, MIL might actually be able to work it!
Wall hanging might be a big family photo, a stenciled phrase meaningful to MIL (Available in dept store Kohl's for instance), a family photo album, any religious items that may be important. Drawer organizers (cutlery, jewelry, scarves). She will also need a phone (keep it simple) , paper and pencil, greeting cards, address book, stamps, playing cards or game books - word search, suduko, etc. You may want to keep some cleaning stuff at her place. Trust me, the facility does what it does and you may want to 'help them' a bit. Finally, depending upon how close you live, a family member may need to 'store' bulky items that just can't be stored in an AL room. Holiday decorations, out of season clothing, etc come to mind. Good luck.
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