It’s never easy to talk with your parents about moving to an assisted living community. It isn’t going to be easy, but it’s necessary. We’re here to help.
Over 810,000 people live in assisted living communities. They’re great for seniors who don’t have family members who can offer full-time care, but who need a bit of extra help to stay safe and comfortable.
Here are a few tips to help you open up the conversation about moving into a senior living community.
Do Your Homework
Do your homework ahead of time before talking with the seniors in your life. You will want to learn as much as possible about transitioning to a senior living community.
Research local assisted living communities in your area (or in areas where your loved one would want to live). Look at levels of care and the various levels included.
You should also take the time to explain your concerns to your loved one. What have you noticed about your loved one that’s making you concerned about their living situation? It will also be important to explain to them why you are bringing up assisted living in the first place?
Take notes so you have something to refer to when it’s finally time to talk.
Have the Conversation Early
Too many people shy away from having these conversations until some type of emergency occurs. By that point, emotions are already running high, and you might have to make rash decisions instead of working together with your loved one(s) to plan their new living situation.
By starting early, you’re not centering the conversation around your loved one’s potential inability to live alone, or their health issues. You’re centering it around their future comfort and well-being. This should be an ongoing conversation as your parents get into retirement age. This way, you’re centering it around their future comfort and well-being.
You’re also giving your loved one(s) plenty of time to decide where they want to go. This will decrease stress for everyone.
Show Empathy and Listen
Give the senior in your life autonomy over this decision and make sure that you listen to all of their concerns, even if they don’t make sense to you. Remember that this is a big decision, and it can be an emotional one.
Find ways to work with them until you come to a solution. Never minimize their feelings or concerns.
For example, your loved one might be worried about living far away from their family and friends and feeling isolated. You can work together to find an assisted living community that’s close enough to everyone and that also offers transportation services so they’re never too far away.
Research and Visit Assisted Living Communities
Encourage your loved one to research communities and visit them with you (preferably in person, but virtual visits may also be an option if your community of choice is far away). You will want to give them autonomy.
Visiting a community will make it less scary. They will be able to see other happy residents, the beautiful location, the rooms, and all of the amenities. This will make them feel more comfortable.
When it Comes Time to Discuss Assisted Living
Start discussing assisted living with your elderly parents as soon as possible, even if your parents have many independent years ahead of them. Talking about assisted living might not be easy, but it’s something that must be done. It’s always better to be prepared.
At Dimensions Living, we aim to offer all of our residents a lifestyle that they’ll love. Are you looking for a wonderful, assisted living community for your aging parents?
Click below to learn more about our assisted living communities today.
