Moving into a retirement community is not an easy decision to make. It can be even harder when your parent isn’t on board with the idea. If you’ve decided that it’s time for your parent to move out of their home and into assisted living homes, here are some things you can do to help them understand and accept your decision:
Try To Understand Their Reasons
When your parent is resistant to moving into a retirement community, it’s important that you try to see things from their perspective. They may be afraid of losing control and independence, or they might feel like they can’t let go of the life they’ve built over the years. Try asking questions that encourage them to talk about their feelings without pressuring them into making any decisions right away: “Are there things about this place that make you nervous?” “What makes you worry about getting older?” “How do you think moving here will affect your family relationships?”
Make Plans With Them
Planning is important. Planning is essential for a smooth transition. Planning can help you avoid surprises, unexpected costs, and unexpected emotions.
As your aging parent thinks about moving into a retirement community, it’s important to make plans together, so everyone knows what’s happening when it will happen, and what needs to happen next.
Don’t Be Confrontational
You should be patient and understanding. Your parent may feel pressured to move, or they may not want to leave their home or friends behind. It’s important that you don’t get angry or upset with them, as this will only make them more resistant to the idea.
Don’t try to force your parent into a retirement community if they don’t want to go. While it is important for people over 50 who need help and assistance with daily tasks like bathing and dressing, there are other reasons why an elderly person might resist moving into one of these centers: fear of losing their independence; lack of social interaction; and difficulty adjusting after being in one place for so long can all cause resistance against leaving home.
If your parent wants nothing more than for you not to worry about them anymore (and doesn’t have any specific needs that require more care), consider hiring a companion instead of moving them into an assisted living center. This way, if something happens where someone needs extra help on occasion (like recovering from surgery), somebody nearby is willing to provide regular assistance without having fostered any relationship between them beforehand–which could make both parties unhappy over time due to lack thereof trustworthiness going forward!
Explain The Benefits Of The Facility
If your parent is still holding out, you might need to explain the benefits of a retirement community. Even though it’s convenient, easy to get around in, and has plenty of social activities, your parent might not be convinced of these facts.
Make It Clear That You’re Not Kicking Them Out
When they ask you why you want them to move, make it clear that you’re not kicking them out. In fact, the opposite is true: You’re trying to help your parent live their best life by giving them access to all the resources that a retirement community has to offer.
Your goal should be for your parent to see that this is an opportunity for both of you—that it’s about making things easier on both of you in the future and creating a better quality of life for both of you now.
Don’t Give Up
Your parent may not always agree with your decision, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love you. They may just be scared of what lies ahead and need time to adjust to the change. Remember that it’s not easy for them either! If you’ve tried everything else and nothing seems to work, then it may be time to consider moving them into a retirement community where they will get the care they need while still feeling like they’re at home.
