Helping Your Loved One Take the First Step Toward a New Chapter at Sholom
Caring for your aging parent often means stepping into difficult, emotional conversations. One of the earliest hurdles may be the talk about driving—and soon after, it’s often the conversation about moving into a senior living community. How do you approach such a sensitive subject with care and confidence?
At Sholom, we’ve been guiding families through this journey for over a century. Here are some of our best tips for preparing how to start the senior living conversation:
Reflect First
Before starting the conversation, think about why you believe it’s time to explore new living options. Are you noticing:
- Safety concerns like frequent falls?
- Signs of isolation or loneliness?
- Missed medications or growing health needs?
- Caregiver stress from trying to meet increasing needs?
Make a list. When you’re ready to talk, it will help to share these concerns thoughtfully and specifically.
Explore Options Together
Sholom offers a full continuum of senior living choices, from independent living to assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Knowing the options ahead of time will help you guide the conversation.
Look for a Teachable Moment
Sometimes there are signs it’s time for senior care: a life event—a fall, a missed medication, or clear loneliness—creates a natural opening to discuss future plans. Use these moments as a gentle entry point to bring up the idea of moving.
Understand It May Take Time
Especially for fiercely independent seniors, it may take several conversations before the idea of senior living feels comfortable. If there’s no urgent safety risk, allow your parent the space to consider the benefits, make the emotional transition to senior living, and come to the decision at their own pace.
Visit Before You Need To
One of the best things you can do is tour senior living communities early, when the move is still a choice rather than a necessity. Visiting Sholom’s vibrant campuses will help replace old stereotypes with a fresh vision of an active, connected, enriching lifestyle.
Remember: Sometimes it’s Mom or Dad who are ready to move, and they’re just waiting for you to bring it up.
Ready to Start Preparing a Plan?
It’s never too early to get organized, even if you or your loved one aren’t quite ready yet.
