Key Elements to Broaching the Topic of Assisted Living with Mom

July 10, 2017 by ·
Assisted Living in Chickasaw AL: Broaching the Topic of Assisted Living

Assisted Living in Chickasaw AL: Broaching the Topic of Assisted Living

It’s late at night. You’re lying in bed staring up at the ceiling. Maybe the ceiling fan is slowly moving some of that air-conditioned air around. It feels good, but you still can’t sleep. You know it’s well past time to talk about a situation with your elderly mother. You just worry about how she will react to the topic of assisted living.

How can you bring up this subject?

There are many important elements to consider when talking about assisted living, especially with an aging parent or other close family member. The first thing to keep in mind is this loved one may have certain misconceptions about it.

What kind of misconceptions can your mother have?

She might think that assisted living is nothing more than glorified nursing home care. The two are completely different, but you need to understand what she might think about immediately when she hears the words coming from your lips.

It’s also a good idea to understand what interests she has.

You may have had a great relationship with her through the years, but do you really understand her right now? Do you know the things she thinks about? Do you know what kind of interests she has now? Maybe she wants to travel. Perhaps she would love the opportunity to pursue a certain art form, music, or some other venture. These might be things you know very little about, but this is the time to begin asking. Is there something in particular she wants to explore?

The more you learn about her areas of interest, things she may want to do or is interested in, the easier it’s going to be for you to broach the topic of assisted living.

There may be a number of things she doesn’t even think as possible right now due to her physical capability, limited mobility, or some other issue. If you can talk about those things as though it’s still possible for her to do them, you might very well get her to consider this option. Just make sure a particular assisted living facility in the area you’ve already looked into or will explore can provide her the opportunity to do the things you will bring up. If they don’t support activities she would like, don’t bring up those activities.

Rather focus on those activities that are of interest your mother, she may not be able to do at the moment, and that the assisted living community in the area will provide her the opportunity.

These are just a couple of thoughts, or elements, on broaching the topic of assisted living with an aging loved one.

If you or an aging loved one are considering assisted living in Chickasaw, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Assisted Living in Chickasaw AL · Tagged:
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
Google Verified Author