3 Tips To Discussing Assisted Senior Care With Your Parent

Do you have a parent who is struggling to maintain their independence at home? Are they unable to perform some basic activities of daily living, like eating, bathing, or getting dressed? Are they at risk of a fall or other serious injury? If so, it may be time to consider a move to an assisted living facility. However, even though such a transition may make sense to you, your parents may not be in agreement. If your parents are resistant to the idea of assisted living or senior care, there are a few things you can do to bring them around. Below are a few good tips to start the conversation:

Have the conversation early and often. Don't wait to discuss assisted living with your parent. As soon as you notice that living at home may not be a viable option, bring up the idea of moving into a facility that provides senior care. They may not agree to the idea immediately, but at least the thought will be out there and they will know it's on your mind. Also, don't let them shut the conversation down. Continue to bring it up in a gentle, non-combative manner.

Whenever you do bring up the idea, let them know that it's for their benefit. You're not trying to force an idea on them or pass on their care to strangers. Let them know that you only want the best for them and you hate seeing them struggle. Remember, it may take months for your parent to warm up to the idea, so the sooner you start, the better off you'll be.

Bring in help. It's possible that you alone will not be able to convince your parent. If that's the case, don't hesitate to bring in support. First, if you have siblings, make sure you and them are on the same page. Also, consider scheduling conversations with your parent's trusted peers, such as their siblings, friends, neighbors, or even pastor. The hard truth is that your parent may just not want to take instruction from their child. If they hear it from a peer they respect, they may be more open.

Involve them in the decision making. At the end of the day, it's your parent's life that will be most impacted by the move. If they have the mental capacity to help with the decision making, you should give them every opportunity to do so. Bring them to tour the homes. Allow them to set criteria and must-haves. Let them pick which items they'll bring with them. If they feel like it's ultimately their decision, they may warm up to the idea faster.

For more information, contact a senior care center like Paramount Parks At Eagle.