Getting your parents to the old folks home is a loaded proposition for most adult kids. They don’t want to leave their aging parents in a care facility, but they also can no longer provide them with the level of assistance they require on a daily basis. In this post, we’ll go over some helpful tips regarding how you can get your parents to the old folks home as painlessly and stress-free as possible. These tips won’t eliminate their resistance, but they should make things a bit easier for everyone involved.
Communicate Often and Carefully
The most important tip for getting your parents to the old folks home is to communicate often and carefully. Communication is the key to any relationship, and it’s no different here. Your parents will be resistant to the idea of moving, so you have to be careful about how you approach the subject. You don’t want to unilaterally decide for them that it’s time to go. You simply want to open a dialogue so that everyone’s needs are met. When your parents are living on their own, they may be dealing with loneliness, depression, or any number of issues. In this case, they may be resistant to the idea of moving simply because they don’t want to leave their home or their current way of life.
Help Them Find the Right Home
One of the best tips for getting your parents to the old folks home is to help them find the right senior living center. Some companies, like Laurel Senior Living, know that this will take some research, but it’s worth the effort. If your parents have any preferences at all, you should do your best to meet them. For example, some parents prefer to live in a religious-based home. You should also do what you can to find a place that has a good reputation. There are several websites that give ratings and reviews for different care facilities. You can also ask your friends and family members for recommendations. It’s also wise to visit a few different homes in person and ask some questions before settling on one place.
Be Prepared for Resistance and Negotiation
If you’ve done everything you can to avoid resistance, but your parents are still resistant to the idea of moving, you’ll have to be prepared for negotiation. Some parents are simply too proud to admit that they need help. You may have to let them know that you’re not trying to insult them or insinuate that they’re incapable. You should be prepared for some heavy negotiation. Your parents may have certain demands or requests that you simply can’t meet. In this case, you’ll have to decide if the trade-off is worth it. If your parents don’t want to leave their home, you might have to consider visiting them more often, hiring a nurse to come by, or even bringing them to live with you. Every situation is different, but there’s no right or wrong decision.
At the end of the day, getting your parents to move into any kind of senior home is a difficult decision. There is no right answer and no easy way to go about it. You simply have to do what’s best for your parent while also keeping your own needs in mind. If you follow these tips, you should be able to get your parents to the old folks home without too much difficulty. There may be some stress and resistance along the way, but if you take it slow, communicate clearly, and keep your parent’s needs in mind, you should be able to get through it.
