When faced with making a decision about moving a parent to supportive living, several fears might arise. Most of those concerns can come from your parent. In order to help your parent overcome his or her fears, it is important that you understand what they are.
Fear of Moving
Moving is a task that is difficult at any age. However, it can seem like an even bigger task for older people. In order to move into a supporting living community, your parent will need to downsize. The idea of parting with cherished possessions can make the idea of moving even more frightening.
To help your parent overcome this fear, it is important that he or she is involved in the process of packing up. Encourage your parent to retain possession of those items that hold the most value and that will make the new environment feel more like home. You can also encourage your parent to gift some cherished items to family members. The idea that the items are still in the family can be comforting.
Fear of Losing Control
Your parent might be scared that moving into a supportive living community translates to a loss of freedom and control over his or her life. In fact, this could be your parent's biggest concern.
When discussing the move with your parent, it is important that you stress how having someone to help with daily tasks actually gives him or her more freedom. The time freed up from doing tasks, such as cooking and cleaning, can be used to do other activities that your parent enjoys.
Fear of Being Forgotten
Your parent could be concerned that he or she will be forgotten by family and friends after the move. This is a realistic possibility for some seniors. It might not be intentional, but it does happen sometimes.
To reassure your parent, consider creating a schedule for family and friends to visit your parent in the new community. You can also make sure that your parent knows that the staff at the supportive living community is available around the clock to meet his or her needs - that can help your parent feel less isolated. If your parent is tech savvy, you can ensure that he or she is kept in the loop through email and video chats.
The best way to handle a fear of your parents is to talk to him or her about it. Without talking to your parent directly, you cannot learn what the fear is and what reassurances you need to make to overcome them. For more information on supported living, contact places like GENACTA Home Care.
Share
