Tips For Talking To Your Relatives About Senior Living

Having the Talk: 5 Tips for Starting the Conversation About Senior Living with Your Relatives

Having a discussion with your loved ones about moving out of their home and into a senior living community is a subject best approached sensitively. Many seniors see leaving their home as a loss of independence when in reality that’s not the case.

Explain Your Concerns about senior living

Whatever your reasoning for wanting your loved ones to consider a senior living or assisted living community, make sure you are able to communicate with them clearly. Is there a safety concern? Has a specific event taken place that brought you to this idea? Whether it’s about safety, finances or just the overall wellbeing of your loved one, ensure they know you are coming from a caring place. And remember to be empathetic and listen to their concerns as well.

Make Senior Living A Conversation 

Assuming they are in no immediate danger, broaching the subject as a conversation can help your loved ones feel involved in the decision. Oftentimes laying down the law can cause tension and cause them to get defensive. Get their opinions and feelings on the subject and try to address each of them with understanding.

List The Benefits of Senior Living

Oftentimes seniors do not realize the many benefits moving into a senior living or assisted living community can offer. Do they miss socializing and engaging with friends? Do they get tired of making their meals and cleaning their house? Once they realize some of the selling points of a senior living community they may start to warm up to the idea.

Face the senior living conversation

A conversation that can be sensitive in nature always goes better if done face to face if at all possible. Chat about it over a cup of coffee or while enjoying their favorite meal.

Have Patience

Assuming there is no need for immediate action, have patience. Allow your loved ones the time to think it through and do their own research. Your first conversation with them regarding moving will more than likely not be your last.