I am very grateful for all the advice I'm getting here. So far it has been very useful.
So, just before Xmas we found a buyer for her bungalow in Sussex and our offer for a bungalow near me was accepted. Mum should be moving mid to late Feb. By then we should have a diagnosis because mum is seeing a psychiatrist on 3rd Feb. The first thing I'll do once she has moved is get a social services assessment of her needs.
What concerns me most is how to make the move as stress free as possible for her.
Fortunately, the new bungalow is almost exactly the same size as her old one, so all her furniture should fit, and she will have her familiar things around her. There is a slight difference in layout but I don't think it will confuse her too much, although the fully fitted kitchen may cause problems: I look forward to phone calls from her complaining that they forgot to put in a fridge/freezer or washing machine, because she can't work out what is behind the cupboard doors.
Outside, however, everything will be different.
My gut feeling is that there is going to be a lot of paranoia over missing objects. When she can't find something she often suspects it has been stolen. For that reason my aim is to bring as many of her possessions as we can, and not have the usual pre-moving clear out. We'll just ask the movers to pack up lock-stock-and-barrel. Unfortunately, mum is ahead of me and my bro reports that she has apparently already thrown away a lot of her clothing. It has just disappeared in the last two or three weeks. I fear that if I ask her about it she will not remember and then get upset it has been stolen. Oh dear!
I'm apprehensive, but also looking forward to the move. Although I and my husband are committing ourselves to a lot of work, many aspects of mum's care will be easier. It has been very frustrating dealing with mum's care long-distance.
So, any tips on moving a senile parent gratefully received.
Thanks
So, just before Xmas we found a buyer for her bungalow in Sussex and our offer for a bungalow near me was accepted. Mum should be moving mid to late Feb. By then we should have a diagnosis because mum is seeing a psychiatrist on 3rd Feb. The first thing I'll do once she has moved is get a social services assessment of her needs.
What concerns me most is how to make the move as stress free as possible for her.
Fortunately, the new bungalow is almost exactly the same size as her old one, so all her furniture should fit, and she will have her familiar things around her. There is a slight difference in layout but I don't think it will confuse her too much, although the fully fitted kitchen may cause problems: I look forward to phone calls from her complaining that they forgot to put in a fridge/freezer or washing machine, because she can't work out what is behind the cupboard doors.
Outside, however, everything will be different.
My gut feeling is that there is going to be a lot of paranoia over missing objects. When she can't find something she often suspects it has been stolen. For that reason my aim is to bring as many of her possessions as we can, and not have the usual pre-moving clear out. We'll just ask the movers to pack up lock-stock-and-barrel. Unfortunately, mum is ahead of me and my bro reports that she has apparently already thrown away a lot of her clothing. It has just disappeared in the last two or three weeks. I fear that if I ask her about it she will not remember and then get upset it has been stolen. Oh dear!
I'm apprehensive, but also looking forward to the move. Although I and my husband are committing ourselves to a lot of work, many aspects of mum's care will be easier. It has been very frustrating dealing with mum's care long-distance.
So, any tips on moving a senile parent gratefully received.
Thanks