You know in your heart that a move to senior living would benefit your loved one tremendously, but will they agree? What if they are flat-out resistant to the idea altogether? If your loved one has been living at home, this would undoubtedly be a big change. Their potential hesitations, questions, and emotions over the idea are certainly understandable. However, these tips can make it easier for you to help your loved one say ‘yes’ to senior living.
Get To the Root of It
One of the best ways to overcome any hesitations your loved one might have over moving to senior living is to understand their mindset and what this change represents for them. Often it’s seen as a turning point, where their aging fears start to become more real. For example, common aging fears include:
- Loss of independence
- Declining health
- Running out of money
- Losing loved ones
- Having to depend on others
- Not being able to drive
- Being isolated and lonely
- Falling or becoming disabled
Having open, honest discussions with your loved one about their hopes and fears for the future can help you to pinpoint what benefits of senior living speak to those feelings so you can put their mind at ease.
Give It Time
More often than not, it seems like the discussion on senior living comes after a crisis or otherwise immediate need to move. Quite simply, that makes the transition much harder for everyone. By planning ahead and starting the conversation sooner, your loved one has more time to fully process their feelings and begin to embrace this new opportunity; not to mention, they can be more involved in choosing the senior living community, which can also help them feel more comfortable with the decision, knowing they’ve had some control over the process.
During this time, it’s also important to have patience with your loved one, continue those open, honest discussions, and really listen. Plus, your reassurance that you’ll still be just as much of a part of each other’s lives after the move will go a long way, too.
Focus on the Positives of Senior Living
In addition to better understanding where your loved one is coming from and giving them time to fully embrace the idea, another way to help them say ‘yes’ to senior living is to focus on the positives of the situation. Of course, it’s hard to leave home, and this is a big move. We’re certainly not discounting those things, but they’re leading your loved one to benefits that can help them not only to perhaps have a better quality of life but also to fully make the most of life with:
- Peace of mind in knowing support is always at hand– This may help your loved one feel more confident and independent than they were at home.
- Freedom from chores and home maintenance – We take care of the yard work, home maintenance, housekeeping, and meals, so instead, your loved one can focus on doing the things they love the most.
- A lifestyle that’s active and connected – Which is much easier here than at home with a full calendar of social activities, outings, classes, clubs, and volunteer opportunities all planned for your loved one and right outside their door!
- A focus on wellbeing – With wellness services, a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga and Tai Chi classes, onsite spa and salon experiences, and even chef-created menus that use fresh, locally-grown ingredients for meals that are nutritious and delicious!
- Conveniences that make life easier – Amenities include multiple dining venues, onsite beauty salon, concierge services, transportation, pool, library, dog park, and walking trails on beautiful grounds.
Have Them See for Themselves
Lastly, we know seeing is believing, so plan a tour of the communities you’re considering, attend events, and/or have lunch with your loved one there if possible; this will allow you both to get a true feel for the environment, be able to talk to residents and get all your questions answered to help your loved one be ready to say ‘yes’ to senior living.
Check out our guide on Choosing the Right Senior Living Community for more information. Or, contact us today to schedule your virtual tour!
