When it comes to aging, one thing is for sure; it will get to the point where the kids get into that parental and guardianship role over their parents. It gets to the point where the kids have to run errands for their parents, pick them up from activities, cook their meals, and maybe even bathe them in extreme cases. It’s not touched upon too much, but these are technically considered normal. But there is one thing that is almost always a challenge for kids: getting their parents to budge when it comes to living arrangements.
Sure, while you can hire someone to help them out in their own home for a few hours a week, that’s still hours where they’re alone, where something terrible could happen, like a slip and fall accident. You want to indulge in self-care, not have it linger in the back of your head whether your parents are safe. So, here is what you need to know about getting your aging parents to accept new living arrangements.
Ask Yourself What You Want
While you may want them to move to an assisted living facility, it’s not something they may wish to do. Even when they’re old, and their health has declined, they are still technically adults. Moving a parent into your home permanently is a significant commitment. Before taking that step, you must be honest about your ability to care for your elderly parent. If you can give your parent the proper care, they may thrive in their new life with you. However, it may not be the best arrangement for anyone if you are struggling to keep up with the demands of caring for them and are at risk of burnout. So, generally speaking, do you want them to move in with you? Do you like this? What do you want, and how is this conflict with their wants?
Ask for Their Feedback
In the real world, many elderly parents move in with their adult children to help make ends meet and spend time with family. It can be a wonderful experience for everyone involved but it has challenges. One of the most significant issues is how to juggle your responsibilities and the care needs of your parent. You must figure out a schedule that allows you to work and care for your elderly parent simultaneously. Many caregivers have lost their jobs due to needing to balance these roles successfully.
You can see that there is a downside to it, but it’s best to see what they want. Chances are, they’ve been in a role where they had to care for their parent. So, of course, they won’t want to put their kid through that. So ask for their feedback, and don’t just assume they’re only saying something solely out of politeness.
Stay Patient
You shouldn’t try to take control of the situation; this can cause significant damage to the relationship between you and your parents and potentially even your siblings. As tempting as it is to have your word be final, you do not want to do this whatsoever. In the end, try your best to be patient.
