How to Start the Conversation About Assisted Living with a Parent or Family Member

As a parent or family member ages, you may notice behavior or changes that make you question their health and safety. For instance, are they forgetting to pay bills on time or taking their medications properly? Do they have a hard time going up and down the stairs in their current home?

When these situations arise, it might be time to consider assisted living to ensure they can receive the support they need to promote their safety and independence. However, this isn’t always an easy topic to bring up. After all, moving to an assisted living community is a significant change for any person.

At The Woodlands at Canterfield, our assisted living community in West Dundee, IL, wants individuals to embrace senior living. Our team is sharing how to confidently and successfully start the conversation about assisted living with a parent or family member.

Start the Conversation Early

Often, individuals and families wait to consider assisted living until a health change or emergency occurs. This adds unnecessary stress to the situation and can limit a person’s options based on a community’s availability. 

Instead, it is recommended that you start talking about assisted living before you feel Mom or Dad truly needs it. This gets the conversation going and opens up more possibilities when researching communities. 

Prepare Yourself for Questions

Your loved one will have questions – before you start the conversation, ensure you have (most of) the answers. While more specific questions will depend on the community your family chooses (for example, “How much will it cost?”), you can educate yourself on general information to answer basic questions about care, benefits and services.

In addition, prepare to ask your loved one questions in return. For instance: 

• Do you feel safe and confident living alone (if applicable)?
• Do you have a plan for long-term care? For example, if you fell or got sick and couldn’t take care of yourself at home, what would you do?
• Do you ever feel lonely or wish you had more social opportunities? 
• Would you feel less stress if you didn’t have to worry about the house?

Stay Positive

When it’s time to consider additional care options for someone you love, it’s important to remember that this is a significant life change and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Whether Mom or Dad needs extra assistance with medication management or they’re experiencing cognitive changes, any switch or change to their current lifestyle is going to raise questions, concerns and various emotions.

As a result, keep the initial conversation as light and positive as possible. It’s not a lecture; it’s a two-sided conversation that has the potential to change their life for the better and improve their quality of life. 

In addition, this will not be a one-and-done conversation. Instead, it should be an ongoing topic that gets discussed naturally. For instance, if you know Dad is having a harder time keeping up with yard work, mention how senior living communities offer a maintenance-free lifestyle so residents never have to worry about mowing, shoveling or home upkeep.

Keep Your Loved One Involved

Keep the conversation open and ongoing, and ensure your loved one has an active role in the decision-making process. This is going to be a challenging decision for your loved one to make, especially if they still have a high level of independence and they deserve the time to make it. 

Nobody wants to admit they are unable to live on their own, and it can be a difficult process for your loved one. However, by respecting their wishes and keeping them involved, it will be easier to discuss the topic of assisted living in West Dundee, IL, in a respectful and rational manner. 

Research Your Options

After deciding that assisted living is the best option, work together to find a community that meets their needs and lifestyle and makes them feel at home. From there, schedule tours at any communities of interest and ask plenty of questions regarding amenities, programs, dining and other factors that would impact your family’s decision. 

We invite you to read our blog, 3 Tips for Creating a Successful Move to Assisted Senior Living, for more information.

At The Woodlands at Canterfield, our luxury assisted living community in West Dundee, IL, offers exceptional amenities and world-class hospitality with highly trained staff available 24/7. Our community focuses on what makes our residents unique, and our staff uses their expertise and genuine respect to serve in ways that encourage dignity, independence and individuality. 

We invite you to schedule a tour of The Woodlands at Canterfield today and discover reimagined assisted living!