When i took my dad from hospital to his nursing home I told him we were going for a drive. I did have a courtesy car at the time which was a very nice car indeed so I used that too as dad kept commenting that it was a long way to the garage down the road!!!! I said 'Dad. I've got this lovely car for the day it would seem a shame not to make the most of it, lets enjoy the drive'. this worked, but had to be said several times as dad would forget that we had already had the conversation a number of times.
When we arrived he knew immediately that it was 'a home'. Oh Oh I thought, will I be able to get him out of the car and into the home? He came without a problem and when inside he said 'I know why you've brought me here'. I gulped waiting for the torrent of verbals, however they didn't come. He then said 'you have brought me here to look at for when I retire'. (My dad was 87 at this time)
We settled him with a pint of guinness and I was able to take my leave when he asked how is friend Trudy was - I said that I would go and find out.
It took a few months for dad to settle - the home staff had their work cut out, but with patience and friendliness things are now much better. He is physically more healthy and he is eating and drinking well (he wasn't eating or drinking at all which is why he ended up in hospital).
To help the staff at the home my daughter produced a person centred profile of her grandpa (my dad). His like and dislikes, his hobbies, his relationship with his family, who his friends are, etc. - of course not forgetting to mention that he likes his guinness or a tot of whisky. She included a photo of him from his rugby playing days, a photo of him with his medals and photos of his close family.
Hope this helps.