Though seven in ten people require long-term care at some point in their lives, 71% of seniors are reluctant to move into an assisted living community, according to a poll by The John A. Hartford Foundation.
However, the point will eventually come when familial caregivers can no longer offer the help their loved ones need. In these instances, family conversations about senior care are more important than ever.
Read on for a family guide detailing how to have these assisted living discussions compassionately and productively.
Choose the Right Time to Discuss Senior Care
Talking to your loved one about senior living early is a great choice. If you wait for them to experience a debilitating health issue, the discussion will be much more challenging.
Contending with this difficult conversational topic when your loved one is in good shape makes you feel less rushed. You won’t be under as much pressure to plan a quick move. This gives you and your loved one more time to think this important decision through.
It also may prevent your parent or grandparent from experiencing injuries at home in the future. After all, senior care communities have the tools and accessible amenities to help prevent falls and other injuries.
Family conversations about senior care should also be in-person events. This will show your loved one that you care enough to address their concerns face-to-face. They won’t view you as a distant source of information about a community they’re reluctant to try out.
Schedule a time to have lunch together or meet up at your family member’s home. Tell them that you plan to discuss senior care so they aren’t blindsided when you start talking.
Learn More About Senior Living Communities
Before this conversation, you should learn more about what assisted living communities do. Look into:
- Reviews of senior care communities
- Forums where families discuss their experiences
- Family guide websites detailing the services in assisted living
Then, browse the website of the best senior living community in Covington, LA. This will give you more information on the features and amenities your parent or grandparent will find there, including:
- Well-appointed, comfortable apartments
- Resort-style community layouts
- Comfortable community amenities like game rooms and lounges
- Outdoor relaxation areas like courtyards and gardens
- Gourmet chef-prepared meals in restaurant-style settings
- Wellness and health programs for quality senior living
- Daily calendar activities and special events
Telling your loved one about these great features may help them feel less scared of assisted living. They’re more likely to see the community as a home where they can thrive and have exciting experiences.
Make sure to print out some pictures of well-appointed amenities, too.
Create a List of Your Biggest Concerns
When you sit down with your aging loved one, list out the biggest concerns you have about your parent or grandparent aging in place. Some things to mention may include:
- Health problems related to mobility and memory
- The lack of safe and accessible amenities at home
- Their inability to care for themselves and perform daily care tasks
- An emerging need for medication management services
- The loneliness and isolation they experience at home
When having these assisted living discussions, provide examples that illustrate the points you’re making. Instead of just saying “I’m worried that you will fall in your kitchen because of its layout,” remind your loved one of a time that they almost injured themselves in the kitchen.
This will add credibility to your concerns so your loved one doesn’t brush them off.
If you have a larger family, you may want to ask siblings and cousins about their concerns, too. Don’t gang up on your loved one, but stress that this has been a family conversation in the past and that multiple people are worried about certain issues.
Give Your Loved One a Chance to Speak
No one likes to feel unheard, especially when it comes to conversations about their lives and well-being. Actively listening to what your loved one has to say is a fundamental part of senior care decision-making.
Your loved one will likely struggle to contend with the idea that they can no longer live independently. This will take some getting used to. They may not be ready to listen right away and may instead want to vent their concerns.
Don’t make them feel like they’re wrong to have reservations. Pushing their concerns down and minimizing the gravity of their feelings may make them feel more reticent.
Instead, consider doing the following:
- Actively acknowledge the validity of their feelings
- Ask questions that help you better understand concerns
- Talk about their worries without judgment
Address Their Fears Compassionately
Compassion is a critical response to your loved one expressing their trepidations about moving into senior living. Being empathetic means:
- Being open to vulnerability
- Listening actively and responding with readable body language
- Reiterating that you’re having this discussion because you care about your loved one
Showing your loved one information about the best Louisiana community online will show them that you care enough to do research. It also may put some fears to rest as long as they address the root of what they’re saying.
Plan to Talk Again: A Family Guide
You can’t check off every box on an eldercare planning guide in one sitting.
Your loved one will likely need more time to make a decision than you will. Don’t rush them into a senior living community.
Stress that you’re willing to postpone the rest of the conversation when emotions get too charged. Plan to have a series of discussions during the senior care decision-making process.
Also, suggest that you take a tour of senior living communities before making any big decisions. This will give them time to ask questions and get more information.
Start Navigating Assisted Living in Covington, LA
Now that you have a comprehensive family guide for talking about senior living with loved ones, it’s time to begin looking for communities that can enhance their quality of life.
The Trace is committed to helping Covington seniors age gracefully and happily. Our resort-style amenities and diverse activity calendar ensure that seniors have something to look forward to every day.
Our experienced professionals are constantly undergoing additional training to provide the best care possible, so contact us today to learn more about our senior living community.
