At The Gardens at Springfield, we promote assisted living residents’ comfort and independence through individualized care services, spacious floor plans and engaging social and recreational activities. Read on to discover how to initiate meaningful conversations about assisted living options with your aging loved ones.

Understanding the Need for Assisted Living

The National Council on Aging indicates that about 40% of discussions regarding moving to assisted living happen because of a medical diagnosis or fall. If your loved one recently experienced a change in health or has difficulties with day-to-day activities, it may be time to explore long-term care options.

Recognizing the Need for Daily Assistance

While some long-term care solutions let the individual remain in their home, such as adult day care and in-home care, these options may not be ideal in certain circumstances. For example, if a loved one’s home has fall risks, such as stairs or excessive clutter, or they need help with personal care outside caregiver hours, living independently may not be feasible long-term.

It may be time to consider assisted living in these instances:

• Home-based care is no longer practical or financially feasible.
• The individual has experienced an increase in falls.
• A medical condition worsens.
• The individual has difficulty maintaining a clean, safe environment.
• The individual neglects personal hygiene.
• Independent living has become unsafe.
• The individual has become socially isolated.

Preparing for the Conversation

Transitioning to residential care is a sensitive topic that often evokes a range of emotions in aging loved ones and their families. Before addressing the issue, it’s a good idea to take some steps to prepare for the conversation.

Do Your Research

It’s helpful to go into the conversation with information on the assisted living communities in your loved one’s region or desired area, including how many residents the communities accommodate, the types of services and amenities they provide and how much they charge for care. This information can help you understand the value and benefits these communities could provide.

Choose the Right Setting for the Conversation

Consider the right setting for a conversation on assisted living. Choose a private, calm location that’s comfortable and familiar. It may also be a good idea to consider factors such as time of day, as energy levels run low and emotions are likely to run high when everyone is tired.

Initiating the Conversation

As you start the conversation, it’s important to consider your aging loved one’s thoughts and opinions. For many people, asking open-ended questions such as, “What are your thoughts on your current living situation?” and “Do you feel like you’re able to keep up with taking care of yourself?” sets a nonconfrontational tone. Your loved one should be able to talk about potential concerns without feeling judged or ambushed.

Be Honest and Respectful

Keep a respectful attitude as you express your concerns about your loved one’s well-being and why you think assisted living may provide a solution. While you may have a lot of information to share, it’s important to listen to their perspective and validate their feelings and concerns.

Express Your Concerns

Let your loved one know why you’re concerned about their current living situation and why you think assisted living could be the answer. If you’ve seen a decline in their ability to take care of routine home cleaning and maintenance, they’ve experienced some bad falls or they’re not managing their bills effectively, talk about why you think living alone may no longer be their best option.

Discussing Assisted Living Options

After you’ve opened up the conversation about residential care and laid out your concerns about your aging loved one’s well-being, talk about some assisted living communities in your loved one’s preferred geographic region. Be sure to highlight the benefits of assisted living and talk about the possibility of touring some communities.

Highlight the Benefits of Assisted Living

As you talk about assisted living, emphasize the positive aspects of residential care, such as the low-maintenance lifestyle and social opportunities it provides. This can help your loved one see how transitioning to assisted living could make their life easier.

Take the Next Step

To make the idea of touring local assisted living communities less intimidating, offer to schedule visits and tour the residences together. Your loved one will have the opportunity to meet current caregivers and residents and see the amenities firsthand while you ask questions about the quality of care, staff training and health and wellness services. A tour will help you both feel more comfortable about the potential new living environment. If visiting in-person isn’t feasible, an online tour can give you a feel for a community’s features.

In most cases, assisted living is an ongoing discussion. Your aging loved one may need time to get used to the idea of moving or plan for the financial aspect of residential care. For professional guidance on making the transition or to schedule a tour, contact us today.