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Keeping My Mom Safe, Happy, and Healthy

When And How To Speak With Your Elderly Parents About Nursing Home Care

24 May 2018

Lisa Sutton

The decision to explore managed care for an elderly parent or loved one is not an easy one. But it is even more difficult to watch someone you love begin to show signs of being unable to handle the tasks and responsibilities required for independent living inside their own home. If you are watching your elderly mother or father decline in physical or cognitive abilities and want to ensure that they will be safe and well-cared for during their remaining years, broaching the subject of assisted living or nursing home care is the logical starting point. Here are some pointers for making this type of conversation both productive and positive.

Use a gradual approach when possible

Helping your elderly parent come to the realization that they need to consider a different living arrangement should never be undertaken quickly, unless there is an immediate need. Instead, adult children should begin having this conversation well before the actual need exists. Doing this will accomplish two necessary goals. One, it will help your parents become accustomed to the idea and two, it will give them some time to discuss the matter with others of their own age who are also facing this same decision. If, however, your loved one has suffered an illness, injury, or is facing the recuperation after a serious surgical procedure, a more immediate approach may be required. 

Rely on visuals to bolster the message

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are only frightening places when they are unfamiliar, so taking steps to introduce this type of care option to your elderly parents is the next step. Good ways to do this include: 

• attending open houses and events held at these facilities with your parents
• taking them frequently to visit friends or relatives who already reside in a nurse home or assisted living facility
• scheduling private tours and meeting staff members at facilities that would be good choices for your parent or parents

When visiting nursing homes and assisted living facilities, be open and honest about why it is important to do so. Afterward, take time to discuss what they liked or any concerns they may have had during each visit. Doing this will help them understand that you want only the best, safest facility for them. In addition, it will help to convince them that modern nursing care options are designed to offer a pleasant home for those who need some type of help or care. 

Before beginning to discuss nursing homes and assisted living options with your parents, it can be very helpful for adult children to do some research on their own by visiting potential facilities, like Regina Nursing Center, and speaking with the director or resident care team. These professionals can give you valuable pointers to use when speaking with your parents about their health and care needs in their advanced years.

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