As your parents age, you may notice that they have a more difficult time caring for themselves. They may injure themselves more easily, forget important details or lose the ability to be independent.
According to Caring.com, as of 2019, there were over 53 million Americans 65 years old and older. As Americans age, there is a growing need for long-term care. If you worry your parents may require long-term care, you may have difficulty approaching the conversation.
Allow your parents to lead the conversation
To talk about long-term care is a difficult conversation for parents and their children. Your parents may feel hesitant to think about long-term care. Stay patient with the conversation and allow them to lead the conversation. Even if you have your parents’ best interests in mind, allow them to control decision-making. They need as much control as possible. No one wants to feel as though they have no control of their life’s direction. Your parents may disagree on some points, but you should be open to discuss them.
Keep their well-being in mind
Make sure your parents know that you worry about their well-being. Let them know that you want them to remain healthy for a long time and that you need to know their plans and how you can support those needs. Frame the conversation to let them know you want to make life easier, not more difficult.
When you sit down to talk to your parents, make sure you did the research ahead of time. Conduct online research regarding long-term care facilities and discuss options with medical professionals in advance.
