Tuesday, 19 March 2024 14:46

Tips for Transitioning into Assisted Living in Troy, IL

Although most seniors can live comfortably on their own for many years, assisted living may become inevitable for some. Sooner or later, you may need to have a challenging conversation with your aging parents and begin their transition to assisted living in Troy, IL. They may be resistant to the idea of change, and you could be facing an uphill battle to convince them and ease the transition.

We want to help make that transition easier for your loved one and your family. That's why we've rounded up these insights and tips to hopefully make the process more manageable for all.

How to Get Your Loved One Ready for Assisted Living in Troy, Illinois

Just like everyone else across virtually all ages, elderly parents and aging loved ones want to maintain their independence and go about their lives as they always have. However, there comes a point when that reality is no longer sustainable, and unfortunately, many seniors refuse to change their living situations even when they clearly need significant assistance in daily life. Most commonly, seniors may refuse assisted living accommodations because of reasons like:

  • They've grown attached to their home, their possessions, and the area
  • They prefer their daily routines and don't want to change things
  • They fear that they will lose their independence

To help ease the situation and convince your parents it's time to move, utilize these insights.

Educate Yourself on Assisted Living Communities

People are most resistant to change when they lack awareness of what will change and why it needs to change, and they don't know the answer to the question: "What's in it for me?" To put this in perspective, think about any times at work when management introduced massive changes to your daily routines or operations - which changes were the most successful? In almost every case, people become more receptive to change when they understand the specifics of the transition and can voice concerns and ask questions.

If your aging parent doesn't understand what will change and what to expect in their new community, they most likely won't want to make the transition. As such, you need to be the expert on assisting living in your family so that you can properly communicate the specifics to your loved one. Make sure you get a good understanding of the activities at assisted living communities, how staff operate in these facilities, the services provided for residents, and more.

The more information that you can share with your parents, the easier it will be to persuade them and get them invested in the transition.

Be Receptive to Your Loved One's Concerns

After spending decades in the same home and living independently, it can feel emotionally overwhelming to move into an unfamiliar environment filled with new people. Just think back to when you moved out of your childhood home – how did you feel at the time? That's exactly how your aging loved one is feeling right now.

To get your loved one's "buy-in" for the transition, you need to make them feel heard, valued, and respected. Listen to their questions, concerns, and sticking points and address them one-by-one by explaining that assisted living will not overhaul their way of life. Make sure you have an honest and frank discussion about the reasons behind the move, while providing reassurances about their concerns.

Do Not Surprise Your Loved One with the Transition

Seniors deserve to be treated like adults, not children; always do your best to treat your aging parent as an equal and with the utmost respect. As such, it's never a good idea to bring up the conversation about assisted living out of the blue. What's more, it's a terrible decision to surprise your aging loved one with the move without previously discussing it!

Honesty is always the best policy, so make sure you have several discussions about their living situation before introducing the concept of assisted living.

Get Them Involved in the Search

When it's time to seek out facilities for assisted living in Troy, IL and your aging loved one is warming up to the idea of the change, it's wise to involve them in the research phase. After all, they'll be the ones living in that new community, so they should have some say over where they stay.

If you can, bring your parents along when you tour the facilities so they can get a sense of each community on their own. If they're unable to visit facilities with you, make sure you present brochures and talk through each facility option with your aging loved one so they can still have some agency in the research.

Explore Assisted Living in Troy, IL at the Aspen Creek

Has the time finally come to move your senior parents into assisted living? The Aspen Creek of Troy could be the ideal fit for your needs. We are an inclusive and close-knit memory care and assisted living community nestled in the quaint town of Troy in the heart of Illinois. We provide personalized care services to every resident, and with a 1:5 staff-to-resident ratio, your loved one will always have the support they need.

Contact the Aspen Creek of Troy today to schedule your tour of our facility and see our approach to memory care and assisted living in Troy, Illinois first-hand.