Illnesses and cognitive decline in old age often make living alone unsafe for older adults. This necessitates moving to a senior retirement community for proper care.
Despite your good motives behind moving your loved one to a senior retirement community, there will be high emotions. These emotions can complicate or delay the process, and knowing how to handle them is crucial.
Learn to talk to your loved one about moving to senior retirement communities near me.
Start The Conversation Early
The decision to move to a senior retirement community is life-changing, and making a decision requires more than one conversation. While you may want to wrap everything in a single conversation, it will take time for your loved one to accept your decision. The more honest, open, and patient you are, the more they will participate and accept your decision.
You can prepare your loved one by discussing their future needs and options, allowing room for decision-making and planning. Starting early rather than waiting for a health crisis will allow you enough time to research senior retirement communities near me. Your loved one will also be able to contribute towards their move to ensure their comfort while in the community. If your loved one is too old, you can discuss your concerns based on certain changes in behavior, such as:
- Withdrawal from social interactions
- Forgetting to take medication
- Refusing medical attention
- Leaving the gas unattended
- Neglecting personal hygiene
- Neglecting housekeeping needs
- Dressing inappropriately for the weather
- Hoarding of items
Have The Conversation In Person
As much as possible, try to have a physical conversation about moving to senior retirement communities near me. Given the sensitivity of the conversation, you should talk to your loved one when relaxed and without interruptions.
Listen To Their Opinion
While your interest is your loved one’s safety, they could be interested more in their independence. Hence, when they object to your suggestion or state concerns, acknowledge and continue the discussions to understand their reservations. While doing this, empathize with them to show you know their fears and frustrations.
Take Your Time
After reaching a consensus on moving your loved one to a senior retirement community with your family, do not rush the process. You should avoid putting pressure on your loved one until they are ready to move to the community. However, you may need to act immediately when your loved one is incapacitated, making it unsafe to live alone.
Plan A Visit To Senior Retirement Communities Near Me
Even after agreeing to your plans, your loved one may still have silent fears and worries about how their life will look like. To alleviate these worries, plan a visit to one of the senior retirement communities near me for them to see what life in a community looks like.
Let Your Loved One Decide
Finally, unless your loved one is mentally incapacitated, let them decide independently to move from their home into the care facility. If they refuse, you can continue raising your concerns but never force them into a facility against their wishes.
