Should Your Loved One Help Choose Their Assisted Living Solution?

Having a close relationship with an aging loved one - whether a parent, grandparent, spouse, family member, or friend – is a beautiful thing. Not only do these close bonds foster meaningful connections, but they can also help combat the onset of isolation, a common problem among older Americans. However, these relationships are not without their complications. Oftentimes, the younger person feels obligated to look after their aging counterpart. This can lead to feelings of pressure, uncertainty, or inadequacy. For example, if the older person begins to experience challenges with everyday life, such as with eating, bathing, grooming, or managing their medication, the younger may feel a personal responsibility to help in these areas.

Unfortunately, this is simply not a sustainable dynamic unless circumstances and experience allow them to serve as a full-time caregiver. The more common scenario is that the younger party’s obligations to work and family – as well as a lack of training in senior care – prevent them from providing an adequate level of care. Fortunately, options like assisted living exist for just these types of scenarios – and it is often the younger person that first discovers the need for such a solution. Their feelings of personal responsibility often drive this process, e.g., having “the talk” with their loved one, managing the conflict and resistance that arises as a result, and finding the right assisted living solution. While this instinct is well-intentioned, it is often the wrong path. Bearing the weight of this decision and the ensuing research not only puts undue stress on the younger person, but can also do a great disservice to the aging person.

Should Your Loved One Be Involved in Choosing Their Assisted Living Solution?

The unequivocal answer to this question is “yes.” Once you have decided that it is time for assisted living and your loved one has become more amenable to the idea – it is critical to involve them in the process. Below are a few reasons why.

It Is Still Their Life

It is noble to help an aging loved one understand why a senior living solution like assisted living is in their best interest. However, that does not entitle you to decide their fate completely. When the process is commandeered like this, it can create feelings of resentment. The older person may feel condescended to, or as though the nuances of their feelings are being belittled. For best results, this is a process best undertaken together.

Everyone is Different

We like to think that we know our close family members and loved ones better than anyone – and this is often true. However, humans are complicated and everyone is unique. They may have hopes, dreams, or wishes of which you were wholly unaware. When you completely take the reins in selecting an assisted living community, you risk placing them in a new home where they will be unhappy or unfulfilled.

If you would like to learn more about making your loved one a part of the process, call WinnPrairie today at 815-656-4800 or contact us online. We are Freeport assisted living and memory care community offering a joy-filled senior lifestyle.