The older people in your life are oftentimes the people that helped raise you into the person that stands before you in the mirror. You view them as wise and brave, which makes having conversations about their age that much harder. For those that are struggling to have the conversation about assisted living, here’s how you can go about it the right way.
Don’t Wait
The best time to have the first conversation about assisted living is before it’s ever even needed. Waiting until an accident or crisis occurs can make this conversation that much more difficult. Instead, have a casual conversation about this topic as a way to prepare for a time later down the road. This way you and your loved one can have time to discuss it and possibly create a plan for when it might be needed.
Avoid the “Big Talk”
Sitting your loved one down to have a long and serious conversation can make it seem like you’re overly concerned about them. Start off by bringing the topic up in a casual conversation. Mention someone you know that has recently moved into an assisted living community or bring up an article you were reading online or in a magazine. Slowly but surely bringing this up in conversations can help generate a back and forth dialogue so you can see how they feel about it.
What Matters Most
What’s a person without their sense of independence? No one wants to be told what they’re going to do, so instead, figure out what matters most to them. Knowing what your loved one views as important will help you look for a community that offers everything they value. Showing your loved one options and including them on finding an assisted living community will prove to them that they’re in control during this decision making process.
Talking to your loved one about moving into an assisted living community isn’t always the easiest conversation to have, but there are ways to go about it. For other useful tips and information, visit our blog! If you’re interested in learning more or visiting The Arbors Assisted Living community, schedule a tour by contacting one of our five convenient locations:
Bohemia
Hauppauge
Islandia East
Islandia West
Westbury