How (and When) to Help Your Aging Parents
Caring for your aging loved one is hard, but we're here to support you every step of the way.
Making the decision to move your aging parents into a senior living community can be challenging and filled with emotions. Feelings of guilt and uncertainty are natural, but it’s important to remember that this choice is often the best for their overall well-being and safety. Our goal is to provide you with the information and support you need to make the best decision for your loved one.
Dealing with Guilt: Common Emotions
- Guilt: Feeling responsible for disrupting your parent’s life and worrying if they are making the right decision.
- Fear: Concern about your parent’s reaction and the potential negative impact on their well-being.
- Sadness: Mourning the loss of the family home and the lifestyle your parent has known for years.
- Anxiety: Worrying about finding the right community and ensuring your parent receives proper care.
- Relief: Recognizing that professional care can address your parent’s needs and enhance their quality of life.
These emotions are normal and part of the process when considering senior living for a loved one, especially when faced with resistance to moving out of their home.
Is now the right time?
- Are you concerned that keeping the house and yard maintained is becoming too much for your parent to manage?
- Are you concerned that showering or bathing may be unsafe or too hard for your parent to do alone?
- Does it seem like your parent avoids or misses out on getting together with friends or family?
- Are you concerned that your parent may not be able to move around the house safely?
- Are you concerned that your parent is not eating high quality meals?
- Does it seem like decision-making is becoming challenging or too much to handle for your parent?
- Are you concerned that driving is no longer 100 percent safe for your parent?
- Are you concerned that bills and financial obligations may be falling behind for your parent?
- Are you concerned that your parent may have difficulty managing their daily medications on their own?
Recommendations for Discussing Senior Living with a Parent
- Start Early and Be Patient:
- Begin the conversation well before the need becomes urgent to allow time for adjustment and acceptance.
- Express Your Concerns Clearly:
- Use “I” statements to express your feelings and concerns, such as “I am worried about your safety.”
- Highlight the Benefits:
- Emphasize the positive aspects of senior living, like social activities, safety, and access to medical care.
- Include Them in the Decision-Making Process:
- Involve your parent in the search and selection of a community to give them a sense of control and participation.
- Share Stories and Testimonials:
- Provide examples of friends or relatives who have had positive experiences in senior living.
- Offer Reassurance:
- Reassure them that their comfort and happiness are your top priorities and that you will support them through the transition.
Top Senior Living FAQs and Resources
This is a very common response when it comes to considering senior living. Many people feel this way. They may believe that senior living is like a nursing home and it means giving up their independence. The reality is far different. Senior living like Morning Pointe offers levels of care depending on a resident’s needs. The key is to make the move when the person is more independent and able to enjoy everything Morning Pointe Senior Living has to offer. Waiting too long to make this decision often means a decision is made in a crisis mode. We have found that seniors who make this choice earlier, get to do just that – make a choice about their senior living community – rather than family making a rushed decision in an emergency situation or worse when senior living is no longer an option because we waited too long.
A typical comment we often hear from our residents after the move has taken place is, “why did I wait so long. I wish I had moved sooner.” Many residents find that they have more time for themselves, family and less responsibility and stress associated with maintaining a house and yard, cooking, cleaning, or living alone.
We take a team approach from our executive director to our maintenance director. Each associate plays a key role in the transition process. The director of nurses ensures the care staff is up-to-date on the latest medical and care needs. The life enrichment director details activity preferences while the food services director understands special dietary needs and preferences. The maintenance director helps with the move and other apartment projects. The entire team works to understand who the newest resident is, their history, their likes and dislikes. In many cases, there is a “Morning Pointe Welcoming Committee” made up of residents who greet new residents and invite them to join in activities, outings, meals and more.
Morning Pointe Assisted Living offers different levels of care. Couples can live in the same apartment and receive different levels of care. In many of the communities not only is there senior living or personal care services but there is also Alzheimer’s and memory care services. The beauty of the program is to provide just the right amount of care for each resident while promoting independence. As needs change so too can the levels of care.
Ready to take the next step?
Our team is here to answer any questions and provide the support you need during this transition. Contact us today!
