Our parents have been our pillars of support for as long as we can remember. They fulfil our physical needs, provide us with financial support, and nurture us into the person we have become. However, as we age, the roles are reversed and we find that we are now our parents’ caregivers or their source of financial support. Although looking after our parents can be very fulfilling, it often requires energy and time that we may not have enough to give. Due to our work and family commitments, it may be increasingly difficult to provide our parents with the care or support that they need.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, perhaps it’s time to start a conversation with your parents about moving them to an independent living community. Before we even begin, you should already realize how this conversation can easily go awry. Your parents may mistakenly think that you no longer love or want them in your life. You may even feel guilty about suggesting this to them! Hence, it’s important to tread carefully. You should encourage your parents to be honest about their feelings and take time to listen to their concerns. Help them to understand why moving to an independent living community is indeed a viable option for everyone involved.
Suggest to Your Parents
Firstly, start a conversation about your parents’ needs and goals for retirement. Listen sincerely to their desires and suggest to them that independent living communities could provide them more avenues to achieving their retirement goals. By starting the conversation with a suggestion, you will allow your parents to understand that the decision to move into an independent living community lies entirely in their hands.
The key message to get across to them is the misconception of the lack of autonomy in independent living communities. Clear up their misconceptions and emphasize that such communities will allow them the freedom to be who they want to be, while providing assistance or services that’ll bring convenience into their everyday lives. As such, being in an independent living community will allow your parents to direct more energy and time into more important activities such as their hobbies.
Address Their Concerns
Secondly, keep a lookout for opportunities to allay their fears or address their concerns. For many, the biggest challenge faced by adult children is clearing their fears about the poor quality of life residents experience in independent living communities. Your parents may fear that senior living communities are just an extension of hospitals, filled with inactive and sickly residents. Show them the real picture! In fact, studies have shown that residents in senior living communities are highly engaged in social activities organized by their communities, such as nature trails.
Show Instead of Tell
The most effective way to address your parents’ fears or misconceptions is to bring them along with you to tour an independent living community. Many senior living communities provide free tours for interested parties to explore their community. Independent living communities are not just a ‘one-size-fits-all’ option. Keep your options open and explore the grounds of these communities until you find the most suitable senior living programs for your parents. Explore their amenities such as their in-house restaurants or apartments to have a comprehensive view into the daily life in the community.
Independent Living at Discovery Village At Sugarloaf
If you and your parents are interested to tour an independent living community, may we suggest bringing them to Discovery Village At Sugarloaf? At Discovery Village At Sugarloaf, we provide free tours for interested visitors to explore the community grounds. Your parents will be able to check out our resort-style amenities and learn more about the service and exclusive senior living programs that we offer. We also offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee program where we’ll return your fees if your parents are not satisfied with their stay with us. Contact us to learn more or schedule a tour today!
