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With elderly people living longer than ever and middle-aged men and women being busier than ever, many men and women are finding themselves in the difficult position of having to talk to their aging parents about the possibility of them moving into an assisted living facility. While people may want to put off having this talk to avoid hurt feelings, it often becomes unavoidable. There are ways to ease into this conversation, however. First of all, it is better to bring up the subject of an assisted living center earlier rather than later. If the subject is first broached when the parents are having a great deal of difficulty around their home, the topic may be met with some denial and defensiveness. The parents may not be ready to face their declining health or they may feel as though their children are trying to get rid of them. By starting the conversation early, however, both sides can discuss options before the conversations get personal and heated. Secondly, it is best to ask open ended questions in a friendly tone. Making jokes at an elderly person’s expense is rude and thoughtless. Instead, children should ask for their parents’ wishes for their later years. They should discover their parents’ preferences, whether it is to live at home as long as possible, have a nurse visit to offer assistance, or to move into an assisted facility where they will have more complete and continuous care. While decisions can certainly change over time, knowing the parent’s feelings on the matter can help children feel confident they are making the right decision. If the parent seems completely opposed to the idea of an assisted living facility, or any other option, the children should gently press, without prying, to try to discover the reason behind the hesitation. Perhaps the parents feel that they will be shipped off and forgotten about. By taking the time to reassure their parents that they will visit very frequently, children can help assuage their parents’ fears and ease the transition. While talking about assisted living centers can be a tough conversation to have, it is a conversation that should happen more than once as children and parents look at all the options available in order to make the right decision. Children should never just pick any random center from the yellow pages. They should take care to find the right facilities to meet their family’s needs. Brandermill Woods is one excellent option for assisted living in Richmond,VA Other towns offer excellent choices as well. Above all, children should be sensitive to their parents’ wants, needs and feelings throughout the decision-making process. They should listen with an open mind to how they can best care for their aging parents, and then brainstorm to find the best solution for everyone involved. While an assisted living facility can be the best place for elderly people who need a little assistance in their daily living, the transition can be difficult and should not be taken lightly.
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Assisted living, senior living community, elderly people living,
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