It seems like it was just yesterday when you were watching your children grow up. Now that you're a senior, your children are adults, and they are the ones looking out for you. Having the roles reversed can be a tough change. And lately, you've noticed that your adult children have been hinting at wanting to talk about assisted living.
When the topic of discussing senior care comes up, it's natural to be defensive. After all, change isn't something that many people welcome with open arms. You could try to ignore the situation, but sooner or later you may want to talk about the possibility of moving to an assisted living community.
After all, you've always believed in facing things head-on. You know your adult child wants to talk about assisted living, and neither of you want the conversation to break down. In this post, we're going to give you helpful advice for talking about assisted living with your adult child. While you might not see eye to eye, with the right approach you can find common ground.
Communicating with adult children doesn't have to be difficult. All you need to do is prepare beforehand. Get ready by:
Now that you've done some prep work, you're ready to have a conversation. Here are three tips that will help you and your adult child have a productive discussion about senior care.
Talking about assisted living isn't something you should do over the phone if you can avoid it. Pick a day where you're well-rested and have time to get yourself in the right frame of mind beforehand. Choose a time and a place where you can talk without being interrupted.
This tip is for both you and your children. They may come to you with a bunch of research and information. They could feel ready to make a decision. But the same goes for you. Try not to rule anything out before talking about it with your adult children first. Give them enough time to tell you how they're feeling. It's a good way to move forward in a positive direction.
Discussing senior care isn't something that is likely solved in one conversation. It's important for you and your adult child to keep an open dialogue. Before the conversation ends, make plans for when you can continue. Unless your needs change, be ready for a series of talks with your adult child.
Your children care about you, which is why they'll do their research on assisted living. Be sure to tell them to start with the basics up front. The last thing you want is to be overwhelmed with all the information. When that happens, it's natural to be defensive.
Talking about senior living options is a process. Remember to take things one step at a time and to go at a pace that is comfortable for you and your adult child. And be ready to make compromises.
At Willow Brook, we know that you want to remain independent. Our assisted living communities in Delaware, Ohio and in Columbus, Ohio, give you the opportunity to explore your passions with a helping hand when it's needed.
If you and your adult child are exploring senior care options, Willow Brook could be the right choice. We recently expanded our assisted living community, Willow Brook at Delaware Run, which was ranked the #1 facility in the county and in the top 3 percent in the entire state of Ohio. Contact our friendly staff today to see what your life at a Willow Brook community could be.
