Feeling nervous moving to my new care home

surfygoose

I had to move out of my old care home when it failed its inspection and I was not safe there and it couldn’t meet my needs. I moved in with my parents temporarily while I waited for my new care home, but temporarily has actually been a year and a half because everything goes slowly. Now my social worker says I will be moving soon because everything has been agreed between the local authority and the care home company. I am excited but I’ve been getting very nervous too now that it’s actually getting close. In some ways I’m impatient to get on with it because I don’t like waiting but also I don’t do well with settling in places so it’s scary.

lilydawn

hello, im sorry to hear that your previous care home was unsafe and lacking support for your needs. I hope that your new care home will be more safe and caring of your needs. I too, find settling into new places nerve wrecking. 

surfygoose

Thank you, I am feeling better again about it. I was looking forward to it and then I got scared but the assistant manager had a chat with me on the phone and she was nice. I will have a second visit soon. I guess I will be excited and scared and excited and scared for a while! I do like my new bedroom, I saw it about a month ago and my bathroom. I only met two housemates and three staff but hopefully on my second visit I will meet the other four housemates and staff. They did say they take us on holiday every year and that they have a paddling pool in the garden all summer and barbecues, and go for picnics and to bowling. Also they said I can do work like gardening and helping to inspect the other care homes as well as a work because I like being helpful, and I can make the newsletter for the house because I’ve done that before. It does sound a lot nicer than where I was before. It’s just when things become real it feels overwhelming and I know that once I start being left there without mum and dad I will find it very strange with the new people. I got told it can be a slow transition though so I should try and stay calm and they said everyone gets nervous and everyone has a lot more meltdowns or other problems when they first move in so not to feel bad about that. Thank you for replying because I had been feeling all worried and it’s nice to have moral support. Especially I can look back at it when I next feel a wobbly day.

lilydawn

Meeting the staff, housemates and visiting the new home will be great for you. Familiarizing yourself with new surroundings always helps me feel at ease, when going somewhere new

Sandy_123

Hi @surfygoose it is all sounding very possitive and I hope you will like it after you have moved

Cher_Alumni

Hello @surfygoose

Oh I'm so glad you had a positive phone call with the assistant manager. She does sound nice, and it sounds like there'll be lots for you to do, as you settle into your new place. How fab that you can do a newsletter 

I get it, change is scary. I'll soon be moving and am feeling wibbly wobbly too! And in days to come I'll be excited, then scared, then excited again! I can definitely relate. But as you say, taking it a day at a time and looking to the positives - and for you there are so many! - we can do it. The staff will be incredibly supportive, and at your own pace I'm sure you may make some new friends and lots of happy memories.

Keep us posted on this exciting new chapter, and if you ever have a wibble - we're here.

surfygoose

Thank you Sandy and Lily. Thank you @Cher_Scope. When are you moving Cher?

Cher_Alumni

@surfygoose It will hopefully be in the next few months, all being well  Things have gone a bit awry (turns out buying a house isn't as easy as I'd imagined!) but I'm taking it one day at a time.

How are you feeling about your move now? Better I hope. Maybe time to start collecting cardboard boxes for packing soon!

surfygoose

I hope it all works out for your house move. Keep me updated if you get more news. My mum said they had
lots of delays when they bought their house but they got there in the end.

I have my second visit booked for Monday to see my care home. I don’t think I’m going to need boxes for packing because my parents said they will bring my things over bit by bit as and when I need them as it sounds like I’ll be doing it slowly. The care home manager said they recommend me coming for lunch visits and then half days and then full days and then single over nights, then a couple of nights at a time, until eventually I will be there all week.

surfygoose

I had my second visit to my new care home today. It was nice. They had bought me really colourful curtains that I love. They are black out ones. I had asked for black out curtains and said I like brightly coloured things. My curtains look like someone has thrown about ten different pots of paint at them. They are glorious. They put a red fluffy rug by my bed as well.
I saw the big paddling pool in the garden and it has a rainbow that is a sprinkler. Also I saw the activity shed.
I met five of my housemates so I only have one left to meet. They said that everyone gets taken to the pub on a Friday night for a drink.

Hannah_Alumni

@surfygoose Those curtains sound amazing! Love everything being colourful too Ooo, that sounds fun, grabbing a drink on a Friday. You'll have to ask if the pub do anything like show sports games? or run a quiz? 

serenity2

best wishes with the move. don’t forget to let us know how it goes. 

New beginnings can be exciting, although you are bound to be nervous it’s a big change.

all good wishes 

surfygoose

@Hannah_Scope, I asked and they said that they go to different pubs, sometimes walking and sometimes driving to them. They said they do karaoke at home and Zumba and chair yoga.

@serenity2 thank you. I had my third visit on Monday and this Monday coming I’m having my fourth visit and I’ll stay overnight for the first time. I’ll stay for two nights the week after that.

serenity2

Hi @surfygoose

that sounds so good, I’m really happy for you. it is lovely they are slowly introducing you to your new place to give you time 
good news 

Hannah_Alumni

@surfygoose Oooo Karaoke! What's your go to song? 

surfygoose

I haven’t done karaoke before but I know all the words to “Castle on the hill” by Ed Sheeran.

Hannah_Alumni

Ooo that's a good one to know! My go to is usually something by Shania Twain 

surfygoose

Oooo I love a bit of Shania Twain as well. She’s great.