As an adult child, when you notice your aging parent struggling physically or cognitively, it may be time to seek help. Sometimes, parents are resistant, with responses ranging from flat refusals to insistence that everything’s fine.
Supportive help from Cedar Creek Senior Living can ease your concerns. You may worry if your parent is on their own. While you can’t force your parent to accept help, opening up communication with empathy and understanding is the first step.
Signs Your Elderly Parent Needs Help
An incident can spark a conversation with your aging parent about accepting help, or your concerns may stem from a collection of small but noticeable changes.
Increasing Memory Problems
Memory issues can be a common by-product of the aging brain. Some forgetfulness is to be expected, but it could also indicate a cognitive, psychological, or medical problem.
Mild forgetfulness is one thing, but if memory issues affect their safety, you should begin exploring assisted living options at Cedar Creek Senior Living.
Injuries or Other Safety Incidents at Home
Your aging parent may want to age in place and stay in their home, but it’s not always possible. They may hesitate to admit it, but living independently at home can be more difficult than it needs to be.
They may be avoiding their staircases, struggling to maintain the home and yard, or avoiding household chores that are too difficult for them. Whether they experience a fall or accident, or your concern stems from the possibility of injury, discuss your thoughts and feelings with your elderly parent to help them understand your perspective.
Problems with Mobility
Arthritis and other medical problems can make basic movement difficult for your aging parent. If they have noticeably decreased mobility and their home isn’t safe, moving into an assisted living community can offer them the balance of independence and care.
How to Talk to Parents About Assisted Living
Beginning a conversation about assisted living can be sensitive. Aging comes with many changes, and discussions about moving your parent out of their home and changing their lifestyle can be scary.
Even if your elderly parent is against the idea of moving into a senior living community and accepting help outside the family, adopting some strategies for the conversation can help prevent frustration on both sides.
Talk with Other Family Members
If you have siblings or other close family members, talk amongst yourselves first. Before speaking to your parent, ensure your siblings and family are on the same page. You want to present a united front and bounce ideas off one another to brainstorm ways to make the transition easier for your parent.
Don’t Push and Be Empathetic
Self-determination at any age is essential, and steamrolling your parent into doing what you think is best can make them feel out of control. If your parent is resistant, validate their feelings and empathize with them. Hear their concerns and encourage a two-way conversation.
Chances are, you won’t come away with a solution after the first conversation. Hopefully, you give them a lot to consider so next time you talk about it, they’ll be more open and appreciate your perspective.
Positively Frame the Benefits
Focusing on what your senior parent will lose can reinforce their opposition to moving into Cedar Creek Senior Living. Instead, emphasize the vibrant social life, peace of mind, free time for enjoyable activities, and modern facility, and they can start to picture a future with an improved quality of life.
Bring in Outside Help
When emotions are high, and the conversation turns into conflict, a professional third-party can help improve communication, reframe misunderstandings, and encourage empathy. A neutral voice ensures the conversation remains productive and doesn’t become an argument.
Take a Tour of Cedar Creek Senior Living
You can learn a lot about assisted living communities online. However, to help your aging parent feel comfortable with senior living, taking tours and talking to staff and residents can offer insight into what life at Cedar Creek Senior Living is like.
When your parent learns about the events, amenities, and independence they can maintain, they may even feel excited to move on to the next enriching phase of life.
Schedule a tour to get familiar with the community’s staff and meet their future neighbors.
