Coming to a point when it is no longer safe or feasible for your parents to live independently can be a difficult transition for everyone. As their child, you want to care for your parents and help them in their later years, but they may need help that is beyond what you can offer. If your parents are resistant to moving into an assisted living facility, there may be tension within the family. The best approach you can take is handling the issues they are concerned with and moving forward slowly. Too much change too quickly can cause a great deal of anxiety for both you and your parents.
1. Address any health concerns
Because your parents’ health may be one of the primary reasons they can no longer live on their own, addressing their health concerns may relieve some of the stress they are feeling about moving. Help them set up and get to any doctor’s appointments they’ve been waiting for. Make sure all of their prescriptions are filled and ready to go. Set up appointments with their eye doctors and audiologists. If your parents need new glasses or advanced hearing aids, you want to take care of those things before they move. Being able to see and hear will help them adjust more comfortably to a new setting with new people. A hearing aid will help your parents’ communication as they get to know the other people living there.
2. Look into financial options
Assisted living facilities can be expensive, and the anticipated expense and administrative fee totals may cause undue stress for your parents. Look into their finances for them and make any needed arrangements. If your parents are transitioning into a care facility due to deteriorating health, you can consider the American Life Fund, which offers viatical settlements. You can essentially sell your parents’ life insurance policy to them for money upfront. The settlement may be what your parents need to live comfortably and peacefully.
3. Move the things they can’t take into storage
There is no reason your parents need to worry about getting rid of personal belongings right away. The stress of what to do with their belongings may be a barrier to them transitioning into assisted living. You can help by setting up storage for the things they cannot take with them. There are plenty of low-cost options, regardless of where you live. You can start the process by searching the “cheapest storage units near me” online. Companies like U.S. Self Storage can help you find the storage unit you need at a price you can afford. You can find a storage facility that is temperature-controlled, dry, and secure. Whether you need RV storage or simply some extra space, a self-storage unit may be a good idea.
4. Prepare the house
Regardless of whether you are selling the house, renting it out, or just closing it down for the immediate future, there are practical things that you are going to need to do. From packing personal belongings to cleaning to contacting the utility companies, it is going to be too much for your parents to deal with while moving into assisted living. Handling the house for them will help them transition more easily into a care facility.
5. Make their new home welcoming and familiar
Their room or apartment at the assisted living facility is going to be their new home. To help ease them into that, you want to make sure it feels like home. Move all of their stuff in and unpack it for them, so when they arrive, it is already set up. Bring some of their favorite decorations or sentimental accessories from their house and display them in their new home. Bring their bedspread and bath towels, too.
Heading to assisted living can be overwhelming. With your help, you can ease your parents’ stress and make it a smooth transition.
