Talking to Elderly Parents About Assisted Living

As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, more individuals are taking on the role of a caregiver for their elderly parents. While it can be incredibly rewarding to care for your loved ones in their time of need, it can also put a major strain on your finances, time, lifestyle, and even your own mental health. When it becomes too much to handle, it may be time to consider moving your parents or loved one into an assisted living facility like Spring Hills. Here, you can rest assured that your loved one can get the utmost in care and attention while providing the independence they love. While it certainly can be challenging to talk to elderly parents about assisted living,  there are ways to approach it so that all parties are more comfortable.

When Is It Time for Assisted Living?

When you are caring for your loved one, it can often be difficult to determine when it is necessary to make the switch to assisted living. As much as you want to be able to care for your loved one on your own, you need to be brutally honest with yourself about your capabilities.

If caring for someone else is becoming stressful to your own health and happiness, it may be better to trust this task to the professionals of a facility like Spring Hills. After all, you can’t provide the care and support your loved one needs if you are not fully healthy yourself. In this case, assisted living will be in everyone’s best interests. It is also time to pass the baton if your loved one’s medical needs are beyond what you can provide, as may be the case with memory care patients.

How to Approach an Elderly Parent Who Refuses Assisted Living

We recognize that this is an incredibly sensitive topic and may be difficult to discuss with your loved ones. Here are some tips on how to approach the conversation in the right way:

• Focus on the positives of the assisted living facility, like the ability to maintain much of their independence and interact with others in similar life stages
• Be sure to listen as much as you talk during the discussion, taking into account your loved one’s opinions and feelings
• Start the discussion before it is necessary, especially in mental health situations, like dementia and Alzheimer’s
• Plan frequent visits to keep life as stable as possible for your loved one
• Take tours of nearby communities so your loved one feels involved in the process, capable of finding a facility they enjoy
• In addition to emphasizing the available medical care and assistance at a senior living community, highlight the amenities and social programs that will make their stay enjoyable

Spring Hills understands this process is never easy. With a compassionate, honest approach, you will be able to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with your aging parents that will keep everyone involved happy and healthy.

We would love to show you and your loved one around our communities. Get in touch with Spring Hills to learn more about how we can make the transition to assisted living as easy as possible for everyone.