Have you been concerned with a loved one needing more help or assistance in daily life? The home may have fallen into disrepair and your role as a loving child may have shifted to one primarily as caregiver.
If this sounds familiar, it may be time to discuss options, including whether moving to an assisted living community could be the best choice.
However, if you’re like other families, you may have been putting off these conversations and just hoping that things would get better on their own. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case.
As your loved one begins to need more assistance – and on a daily basis – the earlier you address the reality of the situation and make a decision for a solution, the better quality of life for everyone.
Considering assisted living vs. aging in place at home
For many families, there are two main options: remaining in the home and bringing in additional services or moving into an assisted living community where help is provided around-the-clock.
All families are different and you’ll need to consider your own specific circumstances, but remaining at home might require other family members or friends to contribute more care hours. The home itself may need renovation to make it age friendly. Your loved one’s ability to shop and prepare healthy meals or to remain active may also be an issue.
Assisted living is often the best choice as everything needed is provided in the community. An accessible residence, nutritious dining, activities, social events and even transportation is available.
However, even though the solution might be clear, families may also find themselves reluctant to have the conversation with their parent. Finding it easier to put on hold, you might feel overwhelmed and not know where to begin.
We can help.
Assisted living conversation tips
Having a plan and becoming prepared are the first steps to a successful discussion. The following tips might help get you and your family off on the right start:
Tip #1: Be prepared
These conversations tend to go better when planned. The time spent now will help when you’re at the table. Create an outline of what you would like to accomplish and become as educated as possible on assisted living including residences, activities, dining and costs.
Tip #2: Customize your plan
Every family is different, so you’ll want to personalize any plan to best fit your loved one’s preferences and needs. Consider the logistics and what would be more effective for your family, including where and when to have the conversation.
Tip #3: Invite everyone to the table
Strive to make the conversations transparent so everyone feels that they have a voice. It’s crucial to consider each person’s feelings and not present this as a decision that has already been made.
Tip #4: Let everyone know the topic is the future
No one likes to feel blindsided so it’s better to let your parent and siblings know ahead of time that you want to start gathering ideas about the future care of a parent.
Tip #5: Prepare for opposition
Hopefully everything will go well but it’s always a good idea to prepare for different scenarios. If you can, try to imagine what some of the objections might be and rehearse your answers.
Tip #6: Plan on more than one conversation
Unless your parent is in crisis and the decision must be made immediately, it’s better to assume there will need to be more than one conversation. The first one can be used as a general information meeting and to spark ideas.
Tip #7: Be open to all ideas
Be a good listener and open to everyone’s suggestions. If there are differences of opinion, try to understand any underlying reasons. For example, your parent may be afraid of losing independence or a sibling may not want to accept the reality that help is needed.
Tip #8: Offer to get answers to questions
Take notes and offer to gather answers to everyone’s questions. If it works for your family, you may want to split up the tasks among siblings so everyone feels as if they are an integral part of the solution.
Tip #9: Propose visiting one or two communities
Words and photos on-line may not capture the feeling of a senior living community. It might be helpful to offer to schedule a visit to a few of the communities of interest so everyone can see firsthand what home would be like.
Tip #10: Get professional help if needed
If a parent or another sibling is struggling to accept that additional help is needed or that an assisted living community is the right solution, you might want to invite a professional to meet with the family.
Assisted Living in Broward County at Seaside Hallandale Beach
We’re here to answer any questions you may have about senior living. If your family is searching for assisted living in Broward County, we invite your family to see how our community can encourage and promote a higher quality of life.
Supporting our residents to age well, we believe you or your parents will enjoy the services and amenities available in our pet-friendly community:
We encourage you to visit Seaside Hallandale Beach assisted living in Broward County which is designed to provide activities and social opportunities to help our residents in reaching their wellness goals.
- A monthly social calendar of activities
- Beautiful common spaces to socialize
- Weekly housekeeping
- A spacious courtyard
- An outdoor pool with a covered patio
- Personalized fitness and wellness programs
- Scheduled transportation
- Easy and safe access to the beach
If you have any questions about Seaside Hallandale Beach Senior Living, please contact us at 954-607-1000 or download our brochure.
