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Convincing Your Elderly Parent To Move To A Retirement Home

by Hector Holland

When a person ages, it becomes difficult to do daily tasks as easily as it was at a younger age. The body slowly deteriorates and becomes slower and not as strong. The mind also can begin to not be as sharp as it once was. Forgetfulness and memory loss can become a problem. If you have an elderly parent that is starting to show advancing signs of aging, you may want to consider having them move to a senior housing facility. Here are some ways you can talk to your parent to persuade them that this may be the best alternative for their situation.

The Reluctant Parent

Many times elderly people will refuse to go to a retirement home or senior housing facility. No one likes to be told that they are not able to do something on their own, and often the thought of a retirement home feels negative and degrading to the aging person. You need to be persuasive and repetitive when speaking to your parent about the reasons why a retirement home may be beneficial. 

Sometimes Waiting May Be Necessary

You may have to wait for something difficult to occur before your parent will allow you to discuss the reasoning behind going to a retirement home. They may need to forget something at home or have an incident occur where they will be shown that it would not have happened in a different setting. This is a scary way to approach the situation for both you and your parent, but if they are continuously refusing to move, they may need to find out the hard way that it would be for their own benefit.

Speak Of The Good Points

Tell your parent about the benefits available in moving. Let them know you are worried about them living alone. Often a parent will come around and think about moving if their child tells them how afraid they are for the parent. Speak about the fun things that your parent can do at a senior housing facility and how they would be cared for while learning and meeting new people. 

Take Your Parent On A Tour

Tell your parent that even if they are against moving, you would feel better if they were to go to a facility (such as Schlegel Villages) with you to have a look. You can pretend you are going there to find out the reasons why they should not live there. They will feel more at ease seeing the facility and may actually decide it would be a choice they may make in the future once they are able to see the grounds and the rooms.

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