How to Make Your Parents Say Yes to Assisted Living
When you were younger, your parents took care of you, but the tables have turned now that your parents are aging. Are you going to take care of your parents at home by yourself or take advantage of assisted living in Oklahoma? Some family members are willing to give up their personal lives and careers to be with their parents, but there are those who do not consider this an option. Even if you want to be there for your parents, circumstances can make it hard for you to decide.
Besides, caring for the elderly is often a 24/7 full-time job, which means you are expected to dedicate yourself to ensuring their health and safety completely. If you are not mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared to take on the job, you should discuss assisted living options with your parents. Some seniors are willing to leave their homes to be in assisted living communities, while others prefer to stay.
If you and the rest of the family have decided that it’s best for your loved ones to be in a safe community outside the home, you should convince your parents that staying home is no longer safe for them. But what if they say no? What are you going to do?
How to Convince Aging Parents to Consider Assisted Living
Study Your Approach
Have you discussed assisted living, and yet your parents continuously reject the idea of leaving the house? If you truly believe it’s necessary, you can’t just give up, especially if your mental health and your parent’s safety are at stake.
What we recommend you do is to change your strategies. If your previous approach didn’t work, try another one and if that didn’t work, consider a different approach. As they say, always have plans A to Z.
Some of the strategies you can use are the following:
- Allow them to decide for themselves. Instead of imposing, why don’t you ask them what’s the best solution to their problem? Let them explore their options to give them a sense of control.
- Let them know that this decision is how you show your love and concern for them and not fear or frustration.
- Explain the perks of living in these communities like socialization, independence, comfort, etc.
It also helps to ask people you trust about their honest feedback on how you’re handling your parents. For example, are you being pushy or controlling? If yes, then you need to re-evaluate your tactics.
Give Them Time
If after much prodding and yet you’re still not getting a yes, maybe it’s time to temporarily back off and give your loved ones time to think about what you’ve discussed. Sometimes, giving them enough time to contemplate about their choices will help convince them and let them see and acknowledge your point of view.
When seniors are against assisted living, and you continue to pester them about it, they’ll never consider it. Don’t push their buttons. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to convince them to go. Give them a few weeks, and then once you’re ready to talk to them about it, make sure you change your approach.
Explain The Perks of Assisted Living
One of the reasons why seniors don’t like assisted living is because they don’t know anything about it. Either that or they’ve heard of myths and misconceptions about assisted living, and they believed them.
To counter false information, you have to present facts; this means you need to do your research before you talk to them.
The only way to counter their arguments is to present your loved ones with solid pieces of information. But again, don’t anger them or show your side in a way that makes them defensive. Instead, talk to them gently and respectfully.
Be Honest About Your Feelings
Instead of telling them that they need help, divert the conversation to you and express your feelings to let them understand why you want them to consider assisted living communities.
For example, you can express your concern that if you spend most hours of the day tending to your parents, you will not have time to take care of your children. You can also say that you are on the brink of burnout and that you have observed both of you aren’t happy with the setup. Another option is to tell your parents that you worry about them and that you love them, and you only want the best for them – giving them independence while ensuring their safety.
The point of the conversation is to steer it toward assisted living. When expressing yourself, make sure you don’t mention that your loved ones are becoming a burden to you or that their needs are annoying you. This will hurt their feelings, instead of talking about the negative, present assisted living as a positive solution to the problem.
Ask for Help from Others
Sometimes asking for help from other people can make it more convincing. For example, when you ask someone to help explain the benefits of assisted living, your parents may reconsider it. Likewise, inviting more people who have positive words to say about assisted living will surely change their minds.
People who can potentially influence their decision are religious leaders, medical doctors, or other family members. If your parents would still say no, maybe it’s time you gather all the family members and discuss the issue. The goal of the discussion is again to show your concern and not to single out the elderly.
Are You Currently Looking for Assisted Living in Oklahoma?
Before you convince your parents about assisted living, we suggest you find a credible community. In that way, it will be easier to persuade your parents to choose that community. One important reminder is to be patient with your aging parents. Over time, they will open up to the idea of leaving their beloved home and embracing the culture of assisted living.
At Next Level Senior Advisors, we can assure you that we can find the right place for your loved ones. We take pride in our years of experience in the industry, and our knowledge and the technology we use allow us to present options that will meet your needs. Call us today!
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