keeping the peace during a nursing home transition

Your age and health mean you require a little help every now and then, so you've moved into one of the local assisted living facilities. It's a brand new community to you and you're concerned about how to meet people and make new friends. Here are a few ways to find your niche in an unfamiliar retirement center.

Go to Association Meetings

If the facility sponsors an association where residents can discuss their concerns, become a regular participant. Hear what the concerns are of the other residents and offer any suggestions you have as a previous homeowner. You'll meet many new people and get to know what their overall attitude is toward the administrative staff.

Offer Your Services to Improve the Facility

Perhaps you paint as a hobby and can create some accent pieces for the common areas. Or you have a construction background and can help do some minor repairs in the facility. Other residents will appreciate your efforts to keep the facility nice and will often stop and chat while you do the work.

Share Your Expertise with Others

Perhaps you have a unique way with quilt designs. Or you can show people how to re-cover books. Others will find your particular skills interesting and they may want to learn more. Sharing your skills is a good way to show people your eagerness to support the community.

Become a Volunteer to Help New Residents Find Their Way

Help others as they transition into the assisted living facility. Share your experience of moving with new residents and discuss tips that you found helpful for fitting in. You may have experienced some of the same anxieties as the new people so you can ease their minds by talking about how you worked through those fears.

Start a Walking Group

Motivating people to go outside for a walk with a group is a good way to get to know people. Start with walks around the facility, then branch out to local parks and shopping centers. Not only will you help people get some helpful exercise, you'll give them the motivation to branch out beyond the care center to keep the activities fresh and interesting.

Offer Your Services to Others

Perhaps you were a tax accountant or a nutritionist in your career years. Offer to help people understand and prepare their taxes. Talk with people about the right diet to slow down osteoporosis. Become an advisor to others in your field of expertise. It will keep you mentally challenged and give you the good feeling of helping others in a community like Harbor View Home.