Making the decision to move a loved one into a memory care community is one of the most emotional moments a family can experience. Even when you know it is the right step for safety, health, and quality of life, the heart takes time to catch up with the mind. At Dodge Park and Oasis at Dodge Park, we understand this deeply—not just from a professional standpoint, but from years of walking beside families during this incredibly personal transition.
Many families are surprised to learn that they are not alone in how they feel. There are common emotional stages that appear again and again, and knowing what to expect can make the journey gentler, healthier, and more manageable.
Understanding Your Emotions: The Most Common Feelings Families Experience
1. Relief—Followed by Guilt
Most families feel an immediate sense of relief once their loved one is settled:
- Relief that they are safe.
- Relief that they have 24/7 professional care.
- Relief that they are no longer struggling alone.
But relief is often followed by a wave of guilt.
“Did I do the right thing?”
“Should I have tried harder at home?”
“Would they be upset with me if they understood?”
These feelings are normal. Choosing safety, dignity, and professional care is not abandoning a loved one—it is protecting them in the most loving way possible. At Dodge Park and Oasis, we help families understand that this choice is an act of courage, compassion, and deep commitment.
2. Grief and Ambiguous Loss
Even when your loved one is still physically present, dementia may change communication, roles, or emotional connection. This can create a unique kind of grief known as ambiguous loss—mourning the parts of the person that dementia affects while still caring for the person who remains.
We help families embrace the moments that still shine through—smiles, gestures, memories, music, touch, humor, and connection. Our staff is trained to create opportunities for meaningful moments every single day.
3. Fear and Uncertainty
Families often worry:
- Will they adapt?
- Will they feel at home?
- Will they recognize me?
- Will the staff truly understand them?
Our approach is simple: every resident becomes an extension of our family. With our high staffing ratios, 24/7 nursing, and homelike environment, we meet each resident where they are, not where their diagnosis says they should be.
And families quickly discover that their loved one can adapt, can experience joy, and can continue living a life filled with purpose and dignity.
4. Hope—A Powerful Turning Point
In time, families begin to notice:
- Their loved one is calmer.
- They are eating, sleeping, and engaging more.
- They smile more often.
- They participate in activities they once enjoyed.
- They are safe—and truly cared for.
This is when families often say, “I finally feel like I can breathe again.”
Hope returns. Peace returns. And with it, the ability to focus on connection instead of crisis.
How Dodge Park and Oasis at Dodge Park Help Families Through the Transition
We believe the emotional adjustment is just as important as the physical transition. Here is how we support families every step of the way.
1. A Warm, Personalized Welcome
From the moment a resident arrives, we take time to learn about their routines, preferences, personality, and life story. This helps them settle in calmly and comfortably—and reassures families that their loved one is truly seen and understood.
2. Open, Ongoing Communication
Families never feel left in the dark.
We keep you informed, updated, and connected with:
- regular calls,
- progress updates,
- activity reports,
- photos and notes,
- and invitations to visit anytime.
Transparency builds trust—and trust eases anxiety.
3. A Home, Not a Facility
Our communities are designed to feel warm, secure, and family-oriented—not clinical or institutional.
Soft lighting, music, home-cooked meals, sensory engagement, and small household settings create comfort and familiarity for both residents and families.
4. 24/7 Nursing and Highly Skilled Dementia Care
Families often don’t realize how stressful it was managing medication, wandering risk, falls, confusion, and sleepless nights until those worries are lifted.
Our clinical model allows families to step back into the role they cherish most:
Being a loving son, daughter, spouse, or grandchild—not a full-time caregiver.
5. Emotional Support for Families
We know caregivers need care too.
Through:
- our monthly support groups,
- educational workshops,
- one-on-one conversations with leadership and nursing,
- guidance from our experienced dementia team,
we support families emotionally just as much as residents physically.
6. A Partnership, Not a Hand-Off
Families quickly discover that placing a loved one in our care is not the end of the journey—it is the beginning of a new, healthier, more connected chapter.
We work with you, listen to you, involve you, and honor your role in your loved one’s life. You remain the heart of their world. We simply help carry the weight.
A Final Word: You Are Not Alone
If you are experiencing mixed emotions after placing a loved one in memory care, please know this:
Your feelings are normal.
Your concerns are valid.
And your decision was made from a place of love.
At Dodge Park and Oasis at Dodge Park, our mission is to support both residents and families. Together, we create a community where safety, compassion, and dignity guide every day—and where families can begin to breathe again knowing their loved one is truly cared for.
