“How to Talk to Elderly Parents About Moving Into Assisted Living” is a collaborative post.
Seniors may need to consider moving for their health or well-being, but it’s often not the easiest choice, as they may want to stay where they are as long as possible. When it’s time to start talking to parents about living options, their children may want to use the following to make the conversation as easy as possible and to help ensure the senior knows the reasoning behind the change.
Start as Early as Possible
It may take more than one conversation to talk to a parent about moving into assisted living. Even if they need assisted living, they may try to fight the decision for many different reasons. It’s a good idea to start talking to them about the idea as early as possible and to introduce the topic gently to help make the decision easier for them. Starting early also gives them more time to think about it and whether it might be a good move for them.
Listen to Their Concerns
It’s crucial to listen to their concerns, as they are valid. There may be ways to alleviate their concerns to help make the move into assisted living more appealing. For instance, they may be worried they’ll be forgotten about. To alleviate this concern, help them learn how to do video calls with friends and family, or plan on spending family time with them regularly, so they can look forward to it. Listening and reviewing their concerns can make it easier to help make sure they will have everything they need after the move, too.
Provide Information on Positives
The adult children may want to make sure they’re only providing information about the positives of assisted living and how it can help the senior improve their quality of life. Talk about the care they’ll receive, how they don’t have to worry about house maintenance anymore, and more. The more they hear about the positives, the more likely it is they’ll be willing to move into assisted living. Take the time to look into the benefits offered by local communities to be able to tell the parent what to expect.
Keep Them Involved
It’s crucial to make sure they are involved in all aspects of the decision. Take them to tour assisted living facilities, discuss with them any concerns their doctor may have, and talk to them about the decision more often, so they feel like they’re making the decision, not anyone else. Their involvement can make a big difference in whether they want to move.
Be Patient
Being patient is something that’s hard to learn, but it’s incredibly important when talking to seniors about assisted living. They might outright decline the option right now, but with some patience and continued conversations about how it can help, they may come around. Patience helps the adult children avoid getting upset or anxious whenever they talk to their parents about it and helps prevent the conversations from turning into arguments.
It can be hard to talk to loved ones about the possibility of moving into an assisted living community, even if they will benefit from the extra help. Use the tips here to get the conversation started, to help encourage them to look into their options, and to help make the process smoother. Though this can be challenging, it can be a way to make sure they get all of the help and care they need.
