There never seems to be a right time to bring up the sensitive topic of nursing homes with your parents, but sometimes it becomes something that must be talked about and handled in a way that makes them comfortable.
If you’re struggling with this right now, you’ll probably be feeling emotions like guilt and maybe even fear that you’re abandoning them or that they’ll be unhappy, but it’s important to remember that as long as you’re acting in their best interests and maintain an open communication with them about it, then it will be fine and you’re doing nothing wrong.
It’s also worth remembering that nursing homes these days are not what they used to be and they can actually provide their residents with a new lease of life since they’ll be able to participate in social events with other residents, which can be wonderful for elderly people who have been living alone and unable to get out for some time.
They also take away a lot of the strain of them finding things difficult around the house such as getting up and down stairs, cooking and even washing themselves.
Of course, when it comes to choosing a nursing home, it’s not something you should rush into at all. There are plenty of great nursing homes out there, but also plenty of bad ones where the residents are not cared for as well as they should be. If you do have your parent in a nursing home and are worried that this may be the case, then you need to know that you and they have rights and should speak to a specialized lawyer about seeking nursing home abuse help.
In this post, we’re going to share with you some tips on how to know when is the right time to discuss a nursing home with your parents.
When they’re becoming withdrawn:
If your parent is seemingly becoming withdrawn and depressed, then a nursing home could be a good idea. Although having time alone is not a bad thing, it can get quite problematic if there’s no other social interaction and this can cause your parent to become depressed and anxious.
When safety is an issue:
Safety should always be a top priority, so if you feel like your parent is at risk by living alone, then a nursing home is definitely something you should consider speaking with them about. This can include things like mobility issues or even memory issues where they’re becoming forgetful and doing things like going to bed without switching appliances off.
When they live far away and you can’t help them out as much as you’d like:
If you live far away from your parent and can’t help them out with things on a day-to-basis that they need, such as getting groceries or things needing done around the house, then it could be a good option to consider speaking with them about a nursing home since this will relieve both you and them of the pressure of these things needing done.
