Why You Should Learn More About Assisted Living Before Bringing It Up with Dad
Assisted Living in Shavano Park TX
You’ve been considering assisted living for your aging father, but before you sit down and talk about it, it’s a good idea to learn as much as possible about it.
It’s easy to sit down and tell an elderly family member you think they would be better suited, safer, and happier in assisted living, but what happens when they begin asking specific questions about it?
The defensive nature of people.
People have a tendency to become defensive when the status quo of their life is threatened. For an elderly individual, even the prospect of considering moving from their home can cause them stress and anxiety. That can cause them to dig deeper into their own stance and try to find ways to dismiss even the prospect of considering other options.
As a result, if you simply talk about the idea of assisted-living as a viable and reasonable option for his living situation in the future, he may try to ask questions to make it sound as though this is a dangerous thing to even consider.
Consider these potential questions your father may throw at you:
- Would there be anyone there to help me if I needed assistance in the middle of the night?
- They probably just prefer residents stay in their rooms.
- What kind of activities do they have? Probably just art and stuff I’m not interested in.
While the second one here is not a question, it could be phrased in a question. The point of this is to highlight the defenses you may be met with from your father if you bring up this topic prematurely.
How to properly prepare for this conversation.
The best way to approach the topic of assisted living is to be as prepared as you can. This means making an appointment with one or possibly more assisted living facilities in the area, getting a tour, seeing all of the rooms, activities, and other benefits senior residents get to enjoy at these communities.
Ask about the staff, what they do to offer support, fitness centers, medical support from outside, transportation services, meals, and much more.
When you do your due diligence up front, you will be much better prepared to not only answer the questions your father may have, but to dismiss certain claims or misconceptions he has about it and to allay any concerns that might be bothering him with regard to assisted living as something to seriously consider.
For more information about Pipestone Place Assisted Living in San Antonio, TX or to take a tour, call today (210) 718-0211.
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