You know your parents or grandparents want to stay in their home for as long as possible. After all, who wants to give up their independence and move into a retirement community when they can still live on their own? But the fact is that staying at home can get more complicated with age—your parents may need more help around the house and have trouble taking care of themselves without assistance. That’s why it’s important to talk about moving into assisted living with them now, before facing an emergency or health crisis that forces them out of the comfort and familiarity of home.
In this article, we’ll discuss how you can start this assisted living talk without making them feel pressured or defensive about it (or yourself). We’ll also provide tips on communicating effectively when dealing with an ageing parent resistant to changing any aspect of their lifestyle!
Research Senior Housing Options
It’s a good idea to do some research before deciding on a community, especially if you’re looking at more than one. Talk to other people and their families who have made a move. Visit different neighborhoods, and talk with their team and residents about what they like about living there. If you can do so, visit during meal time to gauge how well-fed and well-taken care of the residents appear to be. Find out what kinds of social activities are available for them in the community—and whether they like those activities or not! You might even want to talk with friends or family members who live nearby; they might know of specific features that would make your parents feel at home in this new environment (like being able to walk outside).
Acknowledge That They Want To Stay In Their Home, But Make A Case For Assisted Living
When you talk to your parents about assisted living, it’s important to acknowledge their reasons for wanting to stay home. They may be worried about losing their independence and becoming a burden on their family. If they’re too far gone with dementia, they may not even realize that they need help with daily tasks like cooking or bathing. If this is the case, don’t feel bad—they might not understand what’s happening until it’s too late.
After you’ve acknowledged the fact that they want to stay in their home, you can begin explaining why moving might be a good idea.
- Explain that it’s important for them to be safe and comfortable.
- Tell them that assisted living offers a variety of activities and amenities, like housekeeping services, meals cooked by chefs every day, laundry services, transportation around town, and more.
- Explain how being at home alone is dangerous—they could slip or fall on the stairs or burn themselves cooking while they’re trying to save money on groceries because they don’t have access to home care workers who could tidy up after them or bring food over regularly (assisted living facilities often include meal plans). Even if your parents are doing okay now with these tasks but aren’t able-bodied anymore due to age or illness/disease (elderly people tend not only lose muscle strength but also balance), there’s still no guarantee that this will remain true indefinitely; things change quickly as we get older!
Make Future Plans A Topic Of Ongoing Discussion
As your parents age, it’s important to make plans for the future. Discussing their options can help alleviate their anxiety around aging in place and moving into assisted living, as well as understanding what is available to them.
You can also promise to keep your parent informed of all decisions, ask them what they want, ensure that they understand the reasons for your decisions and ask for their input. If you and your parents disagree about a decision, explain why you made the choice you did. If this doesn’t change their minds, don’t try to force them to change theirs.
It’s important to remember that not every parent will want this kind of care at first, so don’t force the issue. Instead, gently encourage them to start looking at options they might like in the future—or even now! —and offer your support when they do eventually decide that it’s time.
