Many seniors feel strong emotions at the idea of moving to assisted living – they might worry, feel resistant to the idea, or even experience a little bit of fear. They’re not just leaving a house behind. They’re facing major changes, new routines, and sometimes coming to the hard realization that they’re getting older and may need support to stay independent.
We understand this wholly at Innovation Senior Living, and we’re here to help. Moving to assisted living doesn’t mean seniors are giving up their freedom – on the contrary, assisted living communities help seniors retain their independence by offering support where and when they need it most. Not only that, assisted living communities offer seniors a chance to connect, grow, and feel safe and secure.
If you have a senior loved one in your life who’s nervous about assisted living, here’s a quick guide on how to soothe concerns about this new chapter of life from the experts at Innovation Senior Living.
7 Ways to Overcome Worries About Assisted Living
Here are seven tried-and-true ways that you can help your senior loved one realize that moving to assisted living can be a natural and positive next chapter of life.
1. Listen to their fears.
Fear often comes from the unknown – what will moving to assisted living be like, and how will it be different from life now? Before you start making your case for an assisted living apartment, listen to your senior loved one’s concerns. Are they worried about losing independence? Do they think living in assisted living communities will be clinical and cold, like a hospital? Are they worried about assisted living costs? Let them express their worries so you can validate their emotions and get answers to their questions. When your loved one feels heard (and not pressured), they’re more likely to entertain a change.
2. Get the facts.
Many seniors think that assisted living communities are sterile, cold nursing homes with one-size-fits-all care plans. However, that’s far from the truth, especially at Innovation Senior Living. Our beautiful, sunny community offers vibrant social and enrichment calendars, delicious restaurant-style dining, fitness and wellness classes, personal privacy, and picturesque surroundings.
Our apartments feel more like home than many seniors expect, and we offer the right support at the right time. Our skilled team can assist with activities of daily living, mobility, medication management, and more… but only when our residents need it.
To help your senior loved one feel more confident about moving to assisted living, share brochures, watch video testimonials, and explore our website and blogs. Better yet, schedule an in-person tour of our community so they can see for themselves what life at Innovation Senior Living is really like.
3. Have a discussion about safety and support.
Feeling safe and secure can be a concern for seniors as they age. Maybe you’ve noticed more frequent falls, missed medications, or struggles with cooking or driving. Whatever safety issues have come to your attention, it’s important to discuss them. This is also a great way to reframe moving to assisted living as a proactive choice on their part.
Make sure that your senior loved one knows that moving to assisted living doesn’t mean they can’t take care of themselves. It just means they’ll have a supportive safety net when they need it. Not to mention, with chores like cooking and housekeeping handled by the community team, they can focus on the things they love most.
4. Talk about assisted living costs.
Many people think that assisted living costs are going to be too high to be affordable but are then surprised to find that they can be manageable. This is especially true when you consider the actual costs of aging at home, like home maintenance, in-home care costs, mortgage and insurance, etc.
The best way to tackle your loved one’s fear about assisted living costs is to run the numbers. Look at all the current costs of living at home – mortgage, HOA, insurance, utilities and other bills, groceries, transportation, and in-home care. Compare those with a single monthly fee at an assisted living community that covers housekeeping, meals, and more.
You can also discuss how you’ll fund assisted living costs. Look into all the options, such as long-term care insurance, Veterans benefits, bridge loans, and more to make things more manageable for everyone.
5. Focus on what they’ll gain through assisted living support.
It’s true that your loved one may be leaving their house, but they’ll gain so much more in an assisted living community. Talk about perks like:
- A private, maintenance-free assisted living apartment
- Onsite staff available 24/7 for the support they need
- Exciting social events and activities
- Healthy, delicious meals in a restaurant-style setting
- Transportation to appointments and errands
- More time and energy to enjoy the things they love the most
Assisted living isn’t just about safety – it can help seniors make new friends, find new hobbies, and feel a sense of renewed confidence and excitement.
6. Go slowly.
When you start the discussion about moving to assisted living with your loved one, don’t expect them to be ready to make the change overnight. Give them plenty of space and time to process. Tour multiple communities to see what they’re like, discuss how to decorate a new living space, and be sure to involve them in all of the decision making. You can even explore the idea of a short-term respite stay – sort of a trial run to let your loved one see if they like the community before they commit to a long-term move.
7. Find the right community.
Take the time to find a community that truly feels like home for your loved one. Some communities may feel more clinical, while others – like Innovation Senior Living – create a warm, homelike environment. We know our residents by name, and we tailor our care plans to individual needs, preferences, wishes, and abilities.
Look for assisted living communities that can fulfill your loved one’s needs but also satisfy their values and interests. Focus on finding a caring and empathetic staff, enriching activities, and a safe and uplifting environment.
Tour an Innovation Senior Living Community Today
We understand that the decision to move to an assisted living community is a big one, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Let our team guide you through it, answer questions, take you on a tour of our vibrant community, and help your loved one feel comfortable and confident in their decision. You can schedule a tour and chat in-person with one of our advisors. Contact the team at Innovation Senior Living today!
