Change for anyone can be difficult. But imagine that you have lived in your family home for over 30 years, raised your children in the same neighborhood, and retired there with your late husband. This is where you know your mailman, butcher, florist, and neighbors by their first names. You need to downsize, sell a home, and decide what to keep. This is no small task. It can be daunting. And we never underestimate the stress and impact this has on a person moving into one of our assisted living communities.
We’ve got it covered every step of the way—their care, comfort, and assistance.
As your loved one gets settled into their new apartment, every community carefully orchestrates the introduction of a new resident. From scheduling the move into their new apartment, to meeting staff, introducing them to other residents, and integrating them into the community and activities; we want their first impression of the community to be positive and engaging.
The community holds an all-employee staff meeting at every shift change, every day. During this meeting, details about the new residents are shared with the staff so they can become familiar with who is moving in. This is a big event, and we don’t take it lightly. Every director will make a special point to introduce themselves and get to know the new resident as soon as possible to make them feel welcome.
Even when we put our best foot forward, some new residents are resistant and may complain that they want to move back home. This is normal behavior, particularly if your parent is suffering from dementia. They may be confused and anxious due to memory loss. This is a significant life change for them.
Keep a positive attitude and use encouraging language when you are together. This may be hard for you and difficult to hear that your parent is unhappy. But if they can no longer live on their own this is the best solution to keep them healthy, safe, and in the company of others. Give them some time to adjust and know that you are doing the right thing. Patience is key.
Studies have shown that family contact is one of the strongest predictors of satisfaction and happiness. Family involvement has been linked to lower mortality, less hospitalization, and earlier hospital discharge in a study of those living in long-term care.
Staff will be particularly careful to introduce our new residents to other residents who they think are like-minded. They will ensure that they do not sit alone at meals. Our staff is diligent to make sure residents are up in the morning, groomed, and ready for breakfast with a table to sit at. We know that making a new friend can positively impact their attitude toward a community.
Our Life Enrichment Director plays a key role to encourage new residents to attend activities. Walking into a room of new faces can be intimidating, often caregivers will accompany new residents to activities to help them find their way around the community. Not everyone is a social butterfly, but everyone wants to feel welcome and included. Activities are a great way for new residents to meet their neighbors in a comfortable setting and get involved in hobbies, art, games, or exercise that they are interested in. Activities are also helpful to set up a daily routine.
Our Health Services Director monitors the health and well-being of all our residents carefully. If a new resident is not adjusting well to the move, they will make sure there isn’t any underlying health issue or depression that might be causing them discomfort. Anyone might react negatively to a new situation if they don’t feel well or are in pain. We will make sure that they get extra staff attention, feel supported, and health issues are treated appropriately.
There are many opportunities to keep some things the same in their lives. For example, while at Aegis Living your parent can keep their same doctor. Many Aegis Living communities offer a visiting medical provider for convenience, but they are welcome to keep a physician who they are familiar with. We offer transportation to and from appointments. Also, the community is their home. They are welcome to have visitors—lunch with old friends, play dates with the grandchildren, or dinner with their children. Familiar plans, tasks, and company can help them better adjust to their new surroundings.
To make your parent happy in their new home, we will make every effort to accommodate their adjustment. If you are concerned, speak with the Health Services Director or General Manager to see if there are things that can be done to make them more comfortable. The Chef can make a special family recipe, the Life Enrichment Director can add their favorite hobby to the activities calendar, the community can play their favorite movie in the private theater, or your family can host a brunch in the private dining room. We know that small things can have a significant impact on their happiness as they settle into their new home.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.