Assisted Living

It can be hard to judge when your parents should consider moving to assisted living. Ask yourself:

• Can they perform day-to-day tasks like grooming, bathing, dressing or managing their medications?
• Would they benefit from more social activities or programs?
• Do they need help with chores like lawn care or meal preparation?

If you said yes to these questions, your parents would likely benefit from assisted living services.

Give examples of how their daily lives will be easier.

Assisted living communities can take care of many chores people may not want to do anymore, like housekeeping, yard work and cooking.

Since assisted living communities employ licensed healthcare providers, your parents can also get help with health-related issues. Our team also helps with everyday activities like bathing, getting dressed or taking medication.

A move to assisted living can help your parents with what they need and free up time to do the things they want, like spending more time with family and friends.

Talk to your parents about how they may qualify. Assisted living can help if your parents:

• Need help with daily tasks
• Can move around independently
• Don't need around-the-clock care
• Can mostly manage their medical conditions on their own
• Want to live actively in a social community

Assisted living costs vary by location and the level of care and services chosen.

It's important to talk about payment options with your parents and the assisted living communities you're looking at together.

Your options may include:

• Private pay
• Long-term care insurance
• Medicaid

Private health insurance and Medicare usually don't cover assisted living services.

Learn more about payment options that may be available to your parents.

Your parents may feel isolated and lonely at home, even if they don’t want to talk about it.

Moving to an assisted living community can help them connect with other seniors and keep them active.

Knowing 24-hour staff assistance is available can also give you peace of mind and help your parents feel safer.

It's easy to gloss over a problem your parents have been just "dealing with" on their own.

Ask them questions they might not have considered yet, like:

• Can you do everyday tasks easily, without assistance?
• Are you eating as healthily or as well as you should be?
• Do you always feel safe in your own home, and when you're running errands?
• Do you wish more people were around to talk with?

Have them take a closer look and consider how their lives might be better with a little assistance.

Talk to your parents about what’s most important to them, and find communities that offer those options.

Do they want a full-sized kitchen to cook in, or would they rather have meals prepared for them?

* Is it important to have a second bedroom, or would a studio apartment be easier to maneuver in?
* Is there scheduled transportation to help them run errands, or is there a private parking lot for their car?
* Do they want help with housekeeping or laundry?
* Is there an on-site beautician? Wellness classes or equipment? A chapel? Social activities? A place to have coffee and snacks?

Take some time to find an assisted living community with amenities, services and apartment layouts that best suit your parents’ lifestyles and preferences.

Focus on telling her how you feel, not what she should do.

Use "what if..." language instead of "you should..." or "you need to..." language that may make Mom feel defensive.

Express why you're concerned about her health or safety, and offer information she can look at to learn more.

Encourage her to keep an open mind, and assure her the final decision is hers to make.

Most assisted living communities allow residents to choose exactly what they want assistance with, and to adjust their care plans if their needs change.

Moving to an assisted living community could actually give your parents more independence, with less to worry about and more time to do what they want to do.

When your parents get help with daily activities and cut out household chores, they’ll likely find they actually have more time and energy to do the things they truly care about.

Each day at an assisted living community can give your parents the chance to live life exactly the way they want.