It’s hard to have that first conversation about a move to senior living communities in Anchorage, Alaska, but there is a right way to do it. Follow these tips and ease your anxiety about talking to the senior in your life about a move to assisted living.
How to Introduce Seniors to the Idea of Assisted Living in Alaska
Many people are afraid to talk about assisted living with their loved ones. You may fear that the loved one will not react well, and they may not. Change is scary. It’s essential to approach this conversation from a place of love and understanding. Be prepared for objections and be ready to answer questions.
If the time has come for you to have “the talk” with your senior loved one, use these tips to help make the conversation a little bit easier.
Have a Plan
Before you approach someone about considering assisted Living, make a game plan. Anticipate possible objections the person may have to assisted Living and write down your responses.
According to numerous studies, the main objections to entering an assisted living facility are:
- Loss of independence
- Losing contact with old friends, family, and their neighborhood
- Continuing with their same lifestyle
- Paying for Assisted Living
- Fitting in with a new community
These are all reasonable reasons that anyone would have the same fears about moving from familiar surroundings to an entirely new one. So, as you encounter the opposition, don’t discount it. They come from a real sense of loss and fear.
Tips for Talking to Seniors About Assisted Living
If you can choose a setting to have this conversation, try to make sure it is in a place where the senior can feel comfortable. You don’t want to have this conversation in the hustle and bustle of a restaurant. It would be better to try to find a quiet evening at home.
Do not have this type of conversation when you or the senior is already upset or in a bad mood. Instead, choose a time when everyone is open to sit down and talk peacefully.
Don’t Start on a Negative Note.
Assisted Living is not a punishment; it is a solution. Assisted Living is a great option to help seniors continue enjoying their lives with the help they need. Later in life, some tasks may become burdensome. In addition, like people, age, abilities, and memory sometimes start to decrease. Assisted Living seeks to help seniors meet their needs to enjoy their day-to-day lives, hobbies, and even a rich social life. For many seniors, assisted living means far more freedom than being homebound or depending on family members who have very limiting schedules.
It’s Not a Fast Process
Don’t expect to settle the issue with one conversation. This process will take time and require a lot of persistence; you don’t want the senior to feel rushed or pressured.
Keep the pace steady and slow, keep the lines of communication open, and always offer truthful and valuable information. Don’t let yourself get sucked into arguments or personal attacks. They will only make matters worse.
Understand the Financial Aspect of Assisted Living
Many seniors may believe that assisted living is too expensive. They may look at a total annual or monthly price and have a sticker shock. However, it is important to understand that assisted living is all-inclusive and covers living arrangements, utilities, food, assistance with ADLs, and the like. So, when it’s all added up, assisted Living is generally close to the same cost of living in the area where the senior center is located.
You must understand the financial end of things and be prepared to talk about it. Have a plan for how assisted Living will be paid for before starting the conversation.
Enlist Help
The senior needs to understand that everyone is on the same page. Enlist the help of friends, family members, and perhaps even their doctor to help explain the need for more or better care.
However, it would help if you made sure that the senior does not feel “ganged up.” Don’t treat this like an intervention. This will need to be an ongoing conversation, likely addressed several times and by several people as the senior comes to terms with the need for a change.
Try Respite Care
Respite Care allows for short stays at a great facility, such as Baxter Senior Living, in Anchorage, Alaska. This stay can give seniors a chance to experience assisted Living and enjoy their time at the facility. Fear of the unknown is a big thing. Making assisted living more comfortable and familiar will help seniors accept the change more easily.
Keep Talking
The most important thing is to keep the lines of communication open with your senior loved one. Make sure they know you love them and only have their best interests at heart.
Remember, seniors are people; they still have many of the same fears and concerns as you or anybody else. Don’t be surprised if there is reluctance or hostility to the idea of moving. However, if you treat seniors like adults and with respect, they will be far more open to discussing the idea of assisted living.
Living at Baxter Senior Living in Anchorage Alaska
At Baxter Senior Living, we work to ensure that our community is an extension of your loved ones’ families. So if you are at a place in your life where you need to discuss Anchorage Assisted Living, Anchorage Memory Care, or Anchorage Respite Care, please reach out today.
We are happy to help answer any questions. Contact a Baxter Senior Living Representative today! 907-865-3500
