The older people get, the more likely they will start feeling isolated or alone. This can lead to depression, which can make it hard for them to live independently. If your loved one is in this situation, you’ll want them to be able to remain at home where they’re familiar with their surroundings and have access to the things that bring joy into their lives (like a pet). But sometimes your loved ones need more care than family members can provide—especially if they can’t get around well or have other health problems that make it difficult for them to manage daily tasks independently. If you want to help them make the transition into senior living in Lely, FL, here are some tips for effectively communicating this message:
Give The Conversation Time
Before the conversation, it’s essential to consider what you want to say and how you’ll approach the topic. You may need time alone, so your loved one doesn’t feel rushed or pressured. It also helps if they need to see that everyone is on board with moving away from home.
Take this opportunity to consider how much help they will need to adjust: can someone else stay with them for a while? Will they need more frequent visits from friends and family? How can we make their transition as smooth as possible? If there are financial issues involved, figure out what resources are available and how long it may take for those resources to become available before making a final decision about where your loved one will live after.
Be Open And Honest
It’s important, to be honest about why you’re having the conversation in the first place. If your loved one is ailing, it is natural to want them to move into a senior-friendly independent living community as soon as possible. However, if they are not ready or non-disabled enough for independent living, this could worsen things in the long run.
Be open and honest about how much you care about your loved one’s well-being and happiness—and how that drives your desire for change in their situation. Be aware that what might seem inconvenient for you may be a huge deal for someone else!
Come Up With Solutions Together
If your loved one has concerns about entering a senior living community, you must listen and share their feelings. Ask questions like, “What are your concerns about living in a senior living community?” or “What do you think about the place we looked at?”
Once your loved one has had time to express their thoughts and feelings on the subject, reflect on what they said to come up with solutions together.
For example: If you loved one fears being isolated from family members because they decided to move into senior housing, consider who might be able to visit them more often so that they can still maintain some sense of connection with loved ones.
Visit The Community With Your Loved One
This is a great way to get an honest, unbiased view of the community. Take note of what they say and how they react to the environment. Are they smiling and laughing? Or are they frustrated or scared? Listen carefully as you walk through the community, especially where residents hang out or relax. You may notice that some facilities have more visitors than others—this can also be telling.
Conclusion
This can be a difficult conversation to have, but it’s important for everyone involved. If you take the time to prepare and approach your loved one with empathy and compassion, then the retirement community will be able to help them adjust to this new lifestyle in no time!
