Transitions In Adult Care

When you are caring for an adult, you may notice they are going through changes or transitions. These transitions can often involve a loss of wellness, ability, and independence. As family and friend caregivers, we are often unprepared for the challenges that come along with these changes. We have put together this section of our website to help you with transitions and to give you some valuable tips along the way.      

The Transitions in Adult Care module will:

• provide information and resources to help family and friend caregivers throughout their caregiving journey;
• help caregivers focus on their own wellness and quality of life;
• show that many challenges are shared among caregivers and,
• Let you know that you're not alone.

We use the words caregiver, family and friend caregiver, and unpaid caregiver, to refer to the person giving care. We use the words care recipient and loved one to refer to the person receiving care.  See Caregiving Language for further terms.

Care can have different meanings, so it’s important to explain what we mean when we use it here. Care can be tasks you take on yourself or something a healthcare provider does, either at home or in a facility. It can include many things, from helping your loved one with transportation or finances, to helping with bathing or dressing.  Your doctor or home care worker may refer to these as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).  What are Activities of Daily Living? will help you understand these terms so you can use them when you talk to healthcare providers about your loved one's needs.

Care is also about how you take care of yourself.  It is important to look after your own physical and mental wellbeing during what can be an enriching but also challenging time.

There is a wealth of information in this section.  To help you find what you need, below we have included an expanded list of the menu choices on the right where you’ll find links and resources that provide more information on each topic.

Transitions in Adult Care (this page)
           Introduction
           What to look for when changes are happening
           Starting a difficult conversation
           Living safely at home
                        - Medication management
                        - Nutrition, hydration and oral care
                        - Frailty
                        - Driving
                        - Social and recreation
                        - Falls prevention
                        - In-home monitoring
                        - Home Care
                        - Respite care
                        - Renovating to age in place
                        - Finances and legal matters
                        - Fraud
            Is it time for a move?
                        - Downsizing
                        - Moving in with you
                        - Senior Housing
                        - Long-Term Care
                                    - Residential Care Facilities
                                    - Nursing Homes
                        - Private-Pay Housing Options
            Crisis care and planning
                        - Emergency Department visits and Acute Care stays
                        - Adult Protection
                        - Alternate Level of Care or Transitional Care Units
                        - Urgent Placement in Long-Term Care

We are grateful for the invaluable insight and expertise provided by caregivers, community partners, and allies as we developed this section. We wish to thank the people whose names appear in this list for reviewing and providing feedback to us. If you don't see your name in the list, please let us know and we will correct the error. Thank you!

This section has been made possible by the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors Age-Friendly Communities Grant.