There has long been a stigma about moving parents and grandparents into long-term care, which has resulted in unfair and misplaced guilt. By taking the time to plan and be prepared, you can better understand your parents’ wishes and give them the senior years that they want!
1) Have the conversation
Talk to them about what they want. Approach the situation with positivity and their best interest at heart. Talk about their wishes for their senior years and make plans for their death and funeral arrangements.
Knowing what their preferences are will help to make those difficult decisions easier when they do happen.
Ask them not only what they want but what they need. Encourage them to disclose any medical information that could be relevant to their senior living arrangements. Consider limitations by talking about finances: ask for a reasonable budget so that you can bring them some specific options.
This conversation may be more fluid with some research under your belt, so look at different options and present them calmly and positively.
2) Find out what’s available in their area
Search senior communities offering independent, assisted living, or a combination of both. There are many options to suit all lifestyle requirements, so take your time and research each possibility with an open mind.
Bear in mind that no matter what your personal preference, you should act as an advocate for what they want and respect that it’s their choice to make.
When choosing, you could encourage them to consider the practicality of each option, for instance, on-site amenities and level of care, as well as how suitable each option is, should their care-needs increase or diversify.
3) Legal and medical planning
Firstly, ensuring that your parents have a will allows their assets to be directed as they wish. If they haven’t yet taken this step, you could help them arrange this with an eldercare attorney. You can also assist them in creating a living will, which formally and contractually lays out what their wishes are, should they be unable to advocate for themselves at any point. These decisions most commonly express what treatments someone would accept in their future, for example, blood transfusions and dialysis.
Take the opportunity to gather all important documents in a folder and ensure everything is present. This could include their marriage certificate, birth certificates, financial assets, wills, insurance policies, and any other important documentation.
4) Funeral planning
As a child, your parents seem invincible, which makes the realization that one day they won’t be there extremely hard to accept. Loving your parents is human nature, and it’s one of the strongest bonds felt in a lifetime.
By planning ahead, you’ll know exactly what your parents’ wishes are, which is likely to make this difficult time a little easier. See a list of considerations to make when having this conversation.
In summary
Planning is the key to easing your and your parents’ minds. By preparing for the process of your parents getting older, each step becomes less overwhelming.
By Delicia Warren
Bio: Freelance writer, Delicia Warren, is passionate about the environment and the impact humans are having on the world around us. She’s an advocate of holistic approaches to life’s issues, including alternative medicines, as well as having an interest in helping individuals make small changes to their lifestyles to minimize their carbon footprint.