Publish date: 24 July 2026
When someone you love moves into a Residential Aged Care Home , the transition can bring many emotions. You may feel relieved that they have access to the support they need, while also experiencing sadness, guilt or uncertainty about how your relationship may change.
While your loved one’s day-to-day care is supported by a dedicated care team, your presence, encouragement and involvement remain just as important. With time, patience and the right support, this transition can become a positive new chapter, one where your loved one is well cared for, giving you more opportunity to focus on the moments you share together.
This guide offers practical advice on staying involved in their care and building a positive partnership with the care team.
Managing the emotional impact
Moving your loved one into Aged Care is one of life’s most emotional transitions. Many family members experience a mix of emotions, including relief, guilt, grief or worry, even when they know the move is the right decision. Your loved one may also be adjusting to a new environment, new routines and new faces, which can take time.
Try to give yourself the same patience and compassion you would offer your loved one. Acknowledge these feelings rather than push them aside. Talk openly with family and friends and permit yourself to feel unsettled for a while.
If you’re finding the transition particularly difficult, you can get help from Bethanie’s chaplaincy services , which offers emotional and spiritual support to families and their loved ones.
Settling in an aged care home looks different for everyone. Some days may feel harder than others, particularly during the first few weeks. Stay in contact with the care team, ask how your family member is adjusting and allow them time to become familiar with new routines, people and surroundings.
Staying involved in their care
Family involvement makes a genuine difference to how quickly and happily your loved ones settle into their new home. Here are some practical ways to stay connected and engaged:
1. Regular team communication
Early in the transition, ask who your main point of contact will be and how the home shares updates with families. Introduce yourself to the key members of the team, and let staff know the best way to contact you.
You know your loved one better than anyone, and that knowledge is invaluable to the care team. Open, two-way communication helps staff understand their preferences, routines, history and personality so that care can be genuinely personalised.
Bethanie’s Care App is another great way to stay connected. Families who choose this option receive regular updates and photos, helping you stay informed even when you can’t be there in person.
Before a regular meeting with the care team, keep notes of questions that you have and take the opportunity to discuss what is working well, any changes you noticed in your loved ones, and any other important details that would support more personalised care.
2. Consistent visits
Regular visits provide reassurance and comfort to your loved ones that they are not being forgotten. In the early weeks, shorter, more frequent visits often work better than long ones, as they help establish a reliable rhythm without overwhelming them as they adjust.
Aim for a pattern that suits your loved one rather than feeling pressure to visit every day. As they settle in, they may begin joining activities, building friendships and developing new routines. Speak with their care team about visiting times so your visits do not interrupt the parts of daily life they enjoy.
If they are living with dementia, simple and familiar activities may make your visits more comfortable. Listening to favourite music, reading together, holding hands, sorting photographs or taking a gentle walk can create connection without placing pressure on conversation.
Our specialised dementia care teams can offer more guidance on the approaches that work best for your family member.
3. Personal items
Familiar belongings help a new room feel like home. Bring photographs, artwork, a favourite blanket or chair, books and treasured keepsakes to make the space personal and comforting. Choosing items together and sharing the stories behind them with the care team also help staff better understand a person’s life, interests, and identity. By creating an environment that reflects what matters most to someone, you can help support familiar routines, continuity, and reassurance, especially for people living with memory loss.
Ask the home what residents are welcome to bring. Many Aged Care Homes in Perth, like the 14 homes at Bethanie , encourage residents to personalise their rooms with their own furniture and belongings where possible.
4. Use technology
When you cannot be there in person, technology helps bridge the distance. Video calls, voice messages and shared photo albums allow family members near and far to stay part of everyday life. Grandchildren can share school updates, and interstate relatives can join in special occasions.
If your loved one is not confident with technology, staff are often happy to help set up a call. A simple tablet with large icons, or a digital photo frame that family members can update remotely, can bring daily moments of joy.
A combination of visits, calls, letters and photographs can help maintain relationships in a way that feels natural for everyone.
Working collaboratively with aged care teams
Your loved one benefits most when families and care teams work together as partners. You bring a lifetime of knowledge about the person; the team brings clinical expertise and daily insight. Together, that partnership creates care that is safe, responsive and genuinely person-centred.
To build a strong working relationship with the care team:
- Share your loved one’s story, including their routines, preferences, interests and any cultural or spiritual needs
- Participate in care plan discussions and reviews, so care continues to reflect their changing needs
- Raise concerns respectfully and early, rather than letting worries build up
- Acknowledge the staff who care for your loved one; a kind word goes a long way
- Look after yourself, too, and accept support when it is offered
At Bethanie, families are warmly welcomed as part of the community. Our teams, from nurses and carers to allied health professionals , work closely with residents and their loved ones to ensure care remains personal, coordinated and focused on what matters most.
Supporting your loved one with Bethanie
Moving into Aged Care is a significant change for everyone involved. While your role may change, the love, support, and connection you provide continue to play an important part in a person’s wellbeing.
If your loved one is considering residential aged care, or you would like to learn more about how Bethanie supports residents and their families, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today or find a Bethanie Aged Care Home near you to book a tour. We are here to support you every step of the way.
