4 Strategies That Could Help Mom Start Listening About Assisted Living
Assisted Living in Terrell Hills TX: 4 Strategies That Could Help Mom Start Listening About Assisted Living
It’s almost as if your elderly mother is being obstinate about her stubbornness. At least that’s how it may seem to you and others in the family. You are all fully aware that she is no longer safe living at home alone. The four-bedroom house that used to have children running and laughing and playing in it constantly, the gorgeous living room where she used to spend quiet evenings with her husband, your father, is too much for her to take care of now.
You know she would be better suited for assisted living. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though she’s listening to that advice. Here are four strategies that might just be effective at getting her thinking about this topic, even though it may take several months or even years before she finally agrees to look into it.
Strategy #1: Discuss what she does daily.
Most family support systems have no clue what their aging or disabled parents are doing every day. If your mother is living alone, she may very well tinker around the house, cook a meal for herself, sit down and watch TV, doing a puzzle, read the newspaper, or other things. If she is not active in her community, if she’s not getting the opportunity to spend time with friends, she’s missing out on the benefits of social interaction.
By discussing what she does daily, it could help her realize just how lonely she is now and why assisted living would be a great alternative.
Strategy #2: Talk about her safety.
If she’s slipped and fallen recently, even though she may have avoided injury, that’s a clear sign she may not be as safe at home as she wants to believe. When you discuss these topics, see how she responds. Is she defensive, dismissive, or concerned?
Strategy #3: Listen.
It’s one of the most overlooked aspects of communication, but it’s also one of the most important. Listening. When you take the time to listen to somebody else’s perspectives, despite what you may ‘know’ about their situation, it could provide a great deal of insight to help you understand the reasons why she hasn’t opened up more about assisted living.
Strategy #4: Mention other options.
There certainly are other options, but not all of them are appealing or practical. When you start discussing some of these less appealing options, it could make her realize that staying home alone, possibly getting injured and having to spend any amount of time in a nursing home, is simply not something she wants to contemplate.
If you use some of the strategies, you might just get your mother to start thinking seriously about assisted living.
For more information about assisted living in Terrell Hills, TX, contact Pipestone Place Assisted Living or to take a tour, call today (210) 718-0211.
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