A person may not fully understand when the right time is to bring up certain topics. One of those topics could very well be assisted living.
When they have a spouse, aging parent, or even a grandparent who is struggling with their basic care at home, especially if they live alone and are also feeling isolated and lonely, they may understand the value of assisted living, but how can a person bring up this topic with an aging parent or other loved one in the most effective way?
One of the best ways is to learn as much as possible about assisted living is from a local facility. Keep in mind that an aging senior might very well prefer to remain in the same town or at least as close to their home community as possible when they do need support.
Some family members, like an adult child, may try to encourage that aging parent to move closer to them, even if that means moving out of state, but most people develop friendships and grow accustomed to their own community the longer they live there.
It’s important not to take this decision personally; that aging parent loves their family, but they also love their own town and want to be close to their friends.
When talking about assisted living, be sure also to ask questions to ensure that this elderly senior gets the right community for their specific needs and desires. Below are a few questions to consider when talking about assisted living with somebody you care about.
Question #1: Do they want their own private room or a shared one?
A shared or private room may not be an option at every single assisted living facility, but it’s important to understand where this senior is coming from at first. Many seniors would prefer a private room, especially if they’ve been living alone for a long time, but a shared room may offer cost-saving opportunities.
Question #2: What are the dining options available?
A quality assisted living facility should have a restaurant-style dining facility with a decent chef and plenty of menu options. Also, find out if the menu changes regularly to provide for different options throughout the year.
Question #3: What kind of support do they offer?
If an aging senior requires significant medical attention every day or physical support just to get out of bed and get moving, they might need a different type of facility, but some assisted living communities do provide assistance and some supports for their residents throughout the day. Just be sure you know what kind of support they do offer.
