Touching the subject can be sensitive
Are your parents elderly, and they have increased health care needs, and they are having trouble maintaining the family home? Start the conversation with your parents. Suggest that they should be considering living in a seniors’ residence or using a professional home care help service. This could allow them to consider staying at home.
Although topics about your parents’ lives can often be difficult to address, or even taboo, you still need to prepare to discuss these topics with your parents. One of the articles published on the Visavie website, entitled “5 clues that will help you to introduce your parents to the idea of living in a retirement home“, addresses this topic in part.
Choose between relocating to a retirement residence or home support
The choice between moving to a seniors’ residence or home care services can sometimes be difficult. Home care support offers many benefits.
Many seniors prefer to live in their family home rather than move to a seniors’ residence. And this, even if one of the members of the couple is suffering from a disease such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. This may be the case with your parents? A change of place can sometimes be difficult for the elderly.
The house and neighbourhood they live in may be a solid anchor for your parents. You must not neglect landmarks such as neighbourhood, convenience stores, mailman or friends. These are important points to consider when your parents need to make a decision about their future.
A professional caregiver supports the caregiver even in a seniors’ residence
On the other hand, older people who like to socialize and appreciate contact with neighbours will flourish in a seniors’ residence. Do your parents already live in residence and one of them requires personal care, support or accompaniment?
Of course, the caregiver parent can of course use a professional caregiver to support him/her with the help and care they provide to their partner in residence.
Detect clues that will allow you to anticipate that your parents should consider moving to seniors’ residence
When you start talking to your parents about a possible move to a seniors’ residence, you need to focus on dialogue. Your parents must be involved in this process. In the end, the decision is theirs and their new living environment must promote their happiness.
Be careful, some clues can arouse suspicions. Do your parents need help or at least should you help them in their choice? Is the house well maintained? Do your parents have multiple unpaid bills or much mail that has not been opened? Has the personal hygiene of your elderly parents changed for some time? Do you notice damage to your parents’ car? Do they forget to do simple tasks like preparing the meal? These are some clues that can help you detect that your parents need your help.
The benefits of living in seniors’ residence
Residential life for the elderly offers several advantages. Your parents will benefit from a secure space, presence and support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In addition, an apartment in a seniors’ residence offers more comfort to the elderly with adapted bathrooms, often near the room and especially on the same floor. The presence of culinary services, recreation or the presence of a computer room will also help break the loneliness of some seniors.
Are your parents old? Talk with them regularly to understand their needs
Discuss regularly with your parents what the future holds for them. The choice to move to a seniors’ residence will not necessarily be quick. Your parents may refuse this choice even if they have difficulty coping with the responsibilities of maintaining the family home.
You must keep this conversation going with them. When your parents have weighed the pros and cons, a third person such as a counsellor or a retirement home advisor can help you make a decision and find a place of life that suits your parents.
Remember to take an empathic and sensitive tone when talking to your parents about these topics. Involve them in this discussion and obviously in the decision that will follow. The ultimate goal is to ensure that your loved ones maintain their quality of life and continue to live in happiness.
