Have you been avoiding talking with an aging parent or loved one about moving to an Assisted Living, or other senior living options? If so, you are not alone. Many adult children feel anxious about sitting down with their parents to discuss their parent’s care plan, including the possibility of leaving their family home. It can be an uncomfortable conversation but delaying it may leave loved ones unprepared in the case of an emergency.

Often families visit our communities in times of urgent need after an incident occurs, such as a fall, stroke, or another health emergency, which makes it clear that mom or dad needs assistance caring for themselves. As a result, family members are left hunting for a senior care choice amid an already tough scenario.

If you’ve been putting off this difficult discussion with your aging loved one, we have some tips to help you get started.

When to approach the topic of Assisted Living

It’s best to discuss your loved one’s desires and care needs frequently before it becomes necessary. However, there are times when care needs become apparent before assisted living has even been considered, let alone discussed. Regardless of the situation, talking to a loved one about living options is easiest when done so with affection, understanding, and good intentions.

How do you know when the time is right to suggest a move to Assisted Living?

5 signs it’s time to move to Assisted Living

The following signs suggest that your loved one needs help with everyday duties or may benefit from assisted living:

1. Changes to appearance and personal hygiene. Have their hygiene practices altered recently? Is their attire acceptable for the time of day and season? Sudden changes in appearance, including unexplained weight loss, may indicate that an aging adult is struggling with personal care. Share your concerns with your loved one and arrange an appointment with their care provider if needed.
2. Recent falls or gait changes. Keep an eye on how your loved one walks. If your loved one is unsteady on their feet, they are at risk of falling, which might result in serious injury or worse. If you see any changes in their movement or coordination, make an appointment with their doctor to discuss safety precautions. If your loved one has balance issues or has fallen more than once, consider more specialized senior care.
3. Mood changes. If you notice that your loved one isn’t as social as they once were or appears reclusive, this might be a sign of depression or even early Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Depression is commonly experienced by seniors, particularly if they live alone. Does your loved one appear to sleep a lot or become tired easily? If your loved one shows signs of extreme tiredness, disinterest in conversation, frequent sleeping, impatience, or confusion, you may need to intervene and make an appointment with their care provider.
4. Changes to their home environment. If you notice vast quantities of clutter and heaps of unopened mail when visiting, despite the fact that your loved one has always been fastidious about keeping things clean and making regular bill payments, there may be a problem. Has the laundry piled up? Is the garbage can overflowing? A dirty house may be hazardous to your loved one’s health and safety, as well as an indicator that they need assistance.
5. Signs of financial distress. Is your senior parent or family member still capable of managing their money in the same manner that they used to? If you notice stacks of unopened invoices or receive calls from debt collectors, they may need assistance.

How to Begin a Conversation About Assisted Living with a Loved One

Because each person’s situation is unique, you should approach your loved one in a way that best matches your personal relationship. That said, we do have some general tips to help you approach the topic:

• Empathize and approach with love. Understand that your loved one may find it difficult to imagine leaving the home they have made for themselves and starting over. They may be afraid of change and might be dealing with the fear of abandonment. Comfort your loved one and assure them that you will care for them no matter what. Help them to understand the benefits of moving into an assisted living community.
• Ask your loved one about their preferences. Discuss their views on care options. Ask them openly about how they want to approach things in the event they become unable to make their own care decisions.
• Share your concerns. Be upfront and honest with your loved one about your worries. This will help your loved one understand that you are concerned for their safety.
• Ask about your loved one’s impression of senior care. When the topic of senior care is brought up, there is sometimes a fear of the unknown or a preconceived notion of what senior care entails. Now is a great opportunity to look into how residents of assisted living benefit from around-the-clock assistance when they need it, while still maintaining the maximum possible independence.
• Check out communities in your area. This is one of the best ways to engage your loved one in a meaningful conversation about their care requirements. Visiting communities in person allows you to meet with a team of experts who can answer your questions about care options while getting a preview of what life in an assisted living community looks like. While there you can participate in activities, tour the campus, and socialize with other residents! When visiting, we also recommend asking for an activity calendar so you can get a better idea of what a day in the community looks like.

Are you ready to tour? Print as many copies of our free Financial Comparison Worksheet as you need, and take one to each community you visit.

When you or a loved one is ready to move into senior living, we invite you to explore your options with us, schedule a tour with our dedicated team of senior living experts, and learn more about the Radiant Senior Living lifestyle.