Whether your parents love their independence or require assistance, you suspect that they’ll eventually need to transition to a new living situation. This situation may feel overwhelming for all parties involved, as it means moving on to a new phase of life and acknowledging the reality of aging.
If there’s any sense of solace, it’s the knowledge that the right Riverside County assisted living facility will deliver a variety of benefits: a safe home, a sense of community, and plenty of support. In turn, this will allow you to focus on strengthening your bond with your parents.
Before your family can enjoy these benefits, you’ll need to broach the subject. In this guide, we explain why procrastination is best avoided, and we highlight the simple steps you can take, ensuring a productive conversation.
What Makes It So Important to Talk About Assisted Living Early On?
Many adult children feel uncomfortable bringing up the topic of assisted living. Unfortunately, this reluctance often prompts unnecessary stress, as the topic may not come up until a health crisis arrives. At that point, seniors may no longer have access to the variety of options available to those who take a more proactive approach. As a result, it may be a forced move into whichever facility is currently available, regardless of personal preferences or budgetary concerns.
How Do You Talk About Assisted Living?
The desire to avoid talking about assisted living is often understandable, as aging parents may struggle to admit that they can’t continue to deal with the demands of their independent lifestyle. This conversation may remind them that they lack the physical and mental capacity they possessed just a few years ago. It also makes them uncomfortably aware of their mortality. As such, they may make every effort to dodge the topic. Others will get angry and lash out at anybody who mentions the possibility of assisted living.
To ease the burden of bringing up this difficult subject, do your homework. You should be able to clearly outline why you’re concerned about your parent’s present situation and how assisted living might make a difference. It is necessary to get a sense of the many available options, as facilities can look dramatically different based on their level of care.
As you finally enter into this much-needed conversation, focus on your parent’s agency. They will be far more opposed to the idea of assisted living if they feel they’re forced into it. Explain your mindset, highlighting the many advantages that an assisted living residence can provide. Offer to get them involved by examining marketing materials or touring facilities together.
Make every effort to maintain a two-way discussion. Your parents want you to understand that their concerns are legitimate. Determine what, exactly, they might miss about their current living situation. From there, you can work out how to replicate these qualities in the right Inland Empire assisted living facility. If they’re worried about the financial implications, offer to help them look into budgetary concerns. To help you through all of the processes Rancho Family Aging Services has a dedicated family concierge who can coordinate and help you implement your plan for graceful aging.
The sooner you navigate the initial hurdle of bringing it up in conversation, the more comfortable you’ll find it to make specific plans. With your help, a bright future could be in store for your parents.