Not every elderly person is going to choose assisted living for their future. Even those whose adult children or maybe even a spouse or closest friend they have had their entire life who has been recommending assisted living for a while. Even though they may have all of the brochures, pamphlets, and accurate information on why this is such a great option to consider, that elderly person might not decide it’s best for them for their elder care.
However, as far as elder care options are concerned, assisted living sits as one of the best. Yet, not every assisted living facility is the same. You can’t assume that just because one may be exceptional that all of them will be the same. Nor can you assume that just because one is less than ideal that all of them are like that.
The important component here is to remember to have that conversation about elder care.
For an aging senior in your life — whether it is your mother or father, grandparent, spouse, sibling, aunt, uncle, coworker, friend, the parent of a friend, etc. — bringing up the topic they might not want to hear can be difficult.
You may be expecting pushback. You might even expect to be chased out of the room or the house because you talk about something like assisted living.
In most cases, though, elderly men and women who are struggling with daily tasks of everyday life will be open to discussion of various options. They might not choose assisted living in the long run. They may decide on some other elder care option for whatever reason.
It is, ultimately, their choice. A lot of family members, including adult children, believe that the best option for their elderly mother or father would be assisted living, for example. They push for this elder care option time and time again, even getting upset or angry that their mother or father is flat-out refusing to consider it.
This can lead to ideas about forcing them into this living environment.
Don’t try to force an aging senior to choose something they don’t want.
Some elderly men and women, even though living at home alone is difficult, lonely, and frustrating, will want to remain there. They simply don’t want to entertain any other options.
Whether that is due to misconceptions, misunderstandings, or flat-out stubbornness, it’s not the right of adult children or others in the family to force them to make a move. Of course, if that senior is putting himself or others at risk, that is a different discussion altogether.
However, just because your elderly mother or father, spouse, or senior hasn’t chosen assisted living at this stage in their life doesn’t mean they won’t in the future. Some people need time to process information, think about their future, their present, and honestly evaluate the situation.
The key is to make sure you bring up the topic. Don’t hide it away worried about how this other person is going to react or respond. Be honest, forthright, and learn as much as you can about it because you just never know: many seniors flat-out refused assisted living initially and then found it to be the best decision they made during these later years of life.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Elder Care Services in Marietta GA please contact the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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