US News & World Report: 5 Strategies for Talking to an Aging Parent About Assisted Living
U.S. News & World Report has published an article, "5 Strategies for Talking to an Aging Parent About Assisted Living."
While there's no playbook for how to talk to a family member about the idea of moving into an assisted living facility, the article points out that experts recommend a number of strategies. These include:
"Have the discussion as early as possible, preferably before a health crisis strikes. Having the conversation before a health emergency occurs can afford you and your loved one the opportunity to methodically discuss plans to tackle a host of issues, like downsizing and getting rid of extra possessions, figuring out finances and gathering medical records, says Rani E. Snyder, Program Director at The John A. Hartford Foundation. The Foundation disburses grants to groups that work in the areas of supporting family caregiving and age-friendly health systems and that provide assistance for people facing serious illness and end-of-life issues."
Rani Snyder says to keep in mind the discussion may be a process, not an event. "Most people prefer to age in place. However, we can [and] should try to ease their transitions [from home to assisted living]. That may mean a series of conversations, not a single talk."
To read the article, click here.