Visiting your aging parents this holiday season can be a good time to assess their health, housing, and finances. It might be a difficult task to discuss these topics, but it’s better for managing their well-being in the long run.
Seeing Changes In Your Senior Parents
A trip home for the holidays is an ideal time to get in contact with your parents and family members that you don’t see every day. It’s a time-honored chance to catch up, swap old memories, and create new ones. But sometimes these holiday gatherings can also be a time when notice that your senior loved one is facing some new challenges.
Your parents might be moving at a slower pace, misplacing things, or unable to adequately care for their home. These signs might be subtle, but you should still take note of them. You might notice an overgrown lawn or a messy kitchen. Although, it can be difficult to confront these changes.
Running the risk of insulting your parents is always a bit of a challenge. The fear of the conversation becoming an argument can make you want to avoid the topic altogether. But failing to discuss and plan for things like cognitive decline, physical ailments and other realities of aging can lengthen the time your parent suffers.
Finding Ways To Talk With Your Senior Loved Ones
Luckily, you don’t have to approach the conversation about aging with fear. Indeed, you may find it easier than you would expect. Read our tips to help seniors discuss things that may be sensitive to them in an efficient manner, such as retirement finances to end-of-life wishes.
Expert tips for discussing difficult topics with your senior loved one:
Discussing Health
Changes in health status – from memory problems to mobility difficulties – are a common part of aging that’s unavoidable. But it can be tricky to recognize important changes in your parents.
Follow these steps:
- Be truthful about what you’re witnessing
- Come from a place of love
- Go with them to the doctor
- Follow up and stay in touch
Discussing Wellbeing
It can be difficult to have talks about the need for geriatric care or assisted living. It can cause a role reversal that an adult child can find particularly uncomfortable. Putting ourselves in their shoes allows us to interact more politely and freely, and to resist shutting them down on daunting topics.
Simple measures such as reflecting on their quality of life and overall well-being – rather than old age – will make the conversation more pleasant for both adult and elderly loved ones alike.
Financial Planning
Proper financial planning is essential to ensure that your elderly loved one can comfortably enjoy their sunset years. Setting aside funds for senior care, planning how to pay bills and other issues will alleviate your parents ‘ financial stress in their old age.
But it can be difficult to know exactly how to deal with financial issues, like who will turn over the finances of mom and dad. Get advice on how your family can afford senior care for your parents while safeguarding their assets by visiting a financial advisor.
Getting Started with Tough Conversations
It’s easier to get going with these discussions than you might expect, and taking the time to have the conversation will help achieve better results. Indeed, many seniors may be aware that they need help but are uncertain as to how to ask for it. It can be a great way to strengthen ties with your aging parents and express your interest in a caring and sensitive way.
Getting started with these conversations is easier than you may think, and taking the time to have the conversation will help lead to better outcomes. In fact, many seniors may be aware they need help but are unsure of how to ask for it. Showing your concern in a loving, sensitive way can be a great way to tighten bonds with your aging parents.
Entrust of DeSoto: A Resident-centric Memory Care Community in Dallas, Texas
Entrust of DeSoto is a memory care community that puts resident well-being at the center of everything we do. We know that each person is unique. That’s why we offer a wide range of services and lifestyle options to nourish the body and create community.
We understand the importance of home-cooked meals and nutrition for seniors and this attitude is reflected in our dining experience. If you or a loved one live near Dallas, Texas, and need assisted living, contact Entrust of DeSoto today to learn about our 24-hour care and find out how we can help.
