This is a sponsored post.
Moving a parent or family member to assisted living can be a difficult decision for everyone involved. Although that decision can be a complex one that involves both emotional and physical participation, the bottom line is that you want your loved one to feel both safe and well.
If your loved one is showing signs that living at home is a strain, it might be time to have a discussion about assisted living. It is always best to broach the subject in a neutral way and allow your loved one to express their feelings before you launch into your thoughts and feelings and possibly risk the conversation being shut down.
Every situation is different but you can use this guide to help you and your loved one make an informed decision.
Brought to you by: Merrill Gardens Retirement Community
This is a sponsored post.
Amber Nelson says
February 19, 2014 at 5:28 pmI am not looking forward to this day when I have to make this decision.
Beth says
February 19, 2014 at 7:39 pmDH and I were just talking about this. Definitely a tough decision. My great-grandma lived in an apartment in an assisted-living building and loved it.
Michele says
February 19, 2014 at 7:54 pmMy Mom is 91 and this is the first year she did not go to Florida for the winter-yes she still lives in her own apartment. Recently, because of the snow, she has started to complain because she can’t get out to the senior center or other places. I go and pick her up and drive her to doctor appointments so she won’t get into her own car and drive herself (yes, she still drives!). Right now she wants to be living in an assisted living facility-but as soon as the weather clears she will be back to-they are nice places to visit but I would not want to live in one! I am 63 and according to the statistics on this post—I should be thinking of assisted living for me? I don’t think so!
Amber Edwards says
February 19, 2014 at 8:27 pmI wish so much we could get my Mom some assisted living help. She just can’t do it all by herself any more. But she is very stubborn and not willing to allow anyone to come in and help her. And going to any kind of home other than her own is completely out in her mind.
Joan says
December 20, 2014 at 5:09 pmWhat has happened since you wrote this? My mother is difficult and unwilling to accept her limitations. It makes it very hard on my sister, my children and me. My mother is 98 and lives alone, except when she is in crisis. Then I stay with her.
Lawna says
February 19, 2014 at 8:29 pmMy mother is seventy but she gets around great. Should anything ever happen to her where she needs help, my sister would probably let her move in with her because she’s like a nurse. I doubt she would want to live in my chaotic house with my four kiddos. Now, if it’s my mother in law, that woman could live under a bridge for all we care!
kay adeola says
February 20, 2014 at 1:52 amThis is a hard decision for anyone to make i would rather have my elders living with us to be totally honest.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
February 20, 2014 at 2:57 amThis is such great information. My mother is disabled and since my father works two full time jobs (yes, two), I think she should go to a place where someone can be there to help her, but she won’t go.
Amanda Love says
February 20, 2014 at 4:12 amI agree with the assisted living. My mother lives at home alone and I worry a lot about her. WIth someone else there to help her in assisted living my mind would be more at ease.
Ashley Gill says
February 20, 2014 at 7:44 amI am so thankful for assisted living places. I think for my dad though, he would refuse to go…. Luckily my sister lives with him and is there to take care. I should send her a thank you.
snickers says
February 20, 2014 at 7:57 amMy Mom needs a place like this, but she won’t budge. We have been having her stay with us over the winter off and on, and she plans on just moving around between her kids. She refuses any suggestions, but I do wonder if I will feel the same way when the time comes.
Theresa says
February 20, 2014 at 10:27 amI dread having to make this decision some day. My in-laws are getting up there in age, but we do love the option of assisted living should it come down to that.
mel says
February 20, 2014 at 10:28 amIt is a really big decision and not one to be taken lightly! My grandma was in assisted living till the day she died.
Triplezmom says
February 20, 2014 at 12:33 pmI think a lot of it depends on the personality of the senior, too. My grandmother thrived in the social environment, but my ex’s grandmother would have hated it.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
February 20, 2014 at 1:06 pmI think we’re almost to that point with our mom. She has that medic alert thing right now, but if she falls again, I think we’ll need her to be in a place where she’ll be looked in on frequently.
Amanda Her says
February 20, 2014 at 1:46 pmMoving a parent to an assisted living facility must be a really hard decision. Not all are the best, but most really do care about the people who live there.
Michelle H says
February 20, 2014 at 2:40 pmIt is tough to weight independence with quality of life. I have seen many good assisted living situations.
Ave says
February 20, 2014 at 2:50 pmWe haven’t thought about it yet, but assisted living does not sound that bad. Have to read and search more opinions about this topic.
Pam says
February 20, 2014 at 2:59 pmMy dad lived in an assisted living facility for a while. It was nice but he hated it. He finally got to come home provided some one stays with him at all times. That makes it difficult for us, but he is especially stubborn and everything has to be his way.
Fabulous Perks says
February 20, 2014 at 3:28 pmThis is a scary situation! One day this week on the news was an elder being attacked by one of the nurses at nursing home. I would make it my duty to visit 3 times a week.
Veronica says
February 20, 2014 at 4:35 pmI am sure that this decision is a tough one for families. It really does depend on where they are going to get the best care
Cynthia L. says
February 20, 2014 at 5:18 pmHow interesting that you would share this article now. I am in the process of placing my MIL in an Assisted Living facility. I am glad you shared this great info.
Maria says
February 20, 2014 at 5:49 pmI work in a nursing home and know that making any decision for your loved one is very difficult. Hopefully you have a great support system that can help make that decision and a smooth transition whatever it may be.
Lady Lilith says
February 20, 2014 at 6:47 pmI think it all depends on the person. I know one person who had to be moved into an assisted living facility and her health improved drastically just from the socialization. I also know another elder who goes out every day, has a social life and loves the independence.
Aisha Kristine Chong says
February 20, 2014 at 8:48 pmIt may take a lot of time to make those kind of decision – maybe in the future when my mood and thought patterns aren’t so fickle. :/
Tough Cookie Mommy says
February 20, 2014 at 10:25 pmI think this is a very important topic because there comes the time when elderly parents need more care than what working kids can provide for them…
Nikki says
February 21, 2014 at 6:10 amIt’s a really tough decision. I think people should live at home as long as they are safely able to do so. When safety and health become an issue, though, assisted living is extremely beneficial.
David says
February 21, 2014 at 8:37 amThat’s one of the best infographics I have seen on it. In most cases, it is desirable to remain at home for most people, I have found, but the reality is that it becomes impossible for many, especially those who don’t have a good support network of family and friends. My mother-in-law went through this a few years ago..
Rosey says
February 21, 2014 at 10:02 amThat’s a nice infographic. My mom’s husband passed not long ago, and I worry about her now, especially since we live in different states.
Sarah Bailey says
February 21, 2014 at 2:46 pmMy Gran went into assisted living and she made some wonderful friends, they really seem to make them nice places these days. z
Marielle Altenor says
February 21, 2014 at 9:37 pmBeing put in a home is something my hubby fears. SO he says we should have lots of kids so that when one get bored of having him he will go to the next one’s house lol. I don’t live with any of my grandparents so this never really came to mind. Seems assisted living would be a better choice.