Having "The Talk” with Your Parents About Assisted Living
When it comes to assisted living, there are several indicators that it might be time to have a conversation with your parent about making the move from their home to an assisted living community. Whatever the reason is, having an open conversation with your parent is important. It’s for the good of everyone involved, even if it might not feel like it at the time.
Let’s dive into those reasons in more detail, as well as some strategies and tips on how to approach your parent or parents about moving to a senior assisted living community. It might be a hard conversation, but you can make it a good one.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is for older adults who may need some assistance with everyday tasks such as bathing, getting dressed, being able to walk, or getting out of bed. People who choose assisted living may need some type of senior care, such as managing their medications, but they’re otherwise able to live independently. In an assisted living community, they receive personalized care and support and enjoy services like housekeeping and laundry, but they’re also free to enjoy amenities like dining, activities and events.
Learn more about assisted living in our blog about the difference between assisted living and memory care.
How Do You Know it is Time to Move to Assisted Living?
There are a lot of reasons your loved one might benefit from living in an assisted living community. Here are several:
They live with chronic health issues that require more extensive care
They have fallen recently
They forget to take medication
They aren’t able to handle daily life activities anymore, like housework or cooking
It's important to keep an eye on their health, but moving to assisted living might not always be health related. It might just be a better lifestyle fit for them when it comes to their daily responsibilities. If an older adult is fairly independent but needs help with basic tasks, senior assisted living could be the perfect fit.
How to Have a Conversation with Your Loved One
Regardless of the reason you’re having a conversation with your parent or loved one about moving to a assisted living community, the topic should be approached with care, empathy, and respect. It can be a sensitive subject for most people, so make sure you are opening a dialogue rather than just coming at them with information.
Here are a few tips for starting the conversation.
Don’t wait too long. One benefit of assisted living is that it provides seniors with basic daily support while still allowing them to live a full, vibrant life. They still have their independence but can get help with the tasks they might struggle with. If you wait until they have a medical scare to have the conversation with them, it can put a lot of unnecessary stress and pressure on the situation.
Come prepared with information. If you’re going to have a conversation with your loved one about moving to assisted living, you need to provide them with the potential benefits of that decision, along with some communities that might fit their lifestyle. Having “evidence” to support your thoughts will allow them to make an informed decision rather than just blindly saying yes and feeling uneasy about their choice down the line.
Listen to their perspective. Making the decision to move to a assisted living community is a big decision, even if it will improve their quality of life. Make sure to listen to your loved one. Don’t just talk to them or at them; let them voice their opinions, objections, concerns, whatever it might be. It’s important for them to work out their feelings through the decision-making process.
Don’t rush into anything. We’ve said it before, but making the decision to move to an assisted living community is a big one. Even if it could ultimately be the best choice they’ve ever made, it can still be scary and uncomfortable. If your loved one decides they do want to move to a senior assisted living community, don’t rush the process. Make sure you find a community that will best suit their needs, as well as provide them with a vibrant and fulfilling life.
The Aspenwood Company’s senior living communities are unique to their location, share high-quality amenities, personalized care, and a commitment to outstanding hospitality. Learn more about each location here.
Live Life Well® with The Aspenwood Company
When it comes to your living situation, it is important to choose a community that will provide you with a rich and vibrant life.
Our communities are the standard of luxurious living for mature adults. You will find our properties in the most sought-after locations, in the middle of culture and activity, where a vibrant lifestyle surrounds you. We’ve spent 25 years fine-tuning every detail of luxurious living so that our residents enjoy a new sense of freedom and fulfillment.
There’s luxury, and then there is Aspenwood luxury.
To become a member of an Aspenwood luxury community, mature adults will face some hard, but important decisions. Be assured that our team is trustworthy and compassionate, and ready to serve you. We are here to provide encouragement, support, and helpful information.
You have the opportunity to pursue and experience freedom like never before. It’s time to experience the laughter, the energy, the activity, the friendly faces, and the caring people of The Aspenwood Company. It’s time to Live Life Well®.