Have you sat down and had “the talk” yet with your parents? No, not the talk about the birds and the bees. This conversation — with an aging parent or parents — focuses on their changing needs and the possibility of moving on from the family home.
At one point in time, the family home was perfect for raising a house full of children, but now those children have moved on and are raising families of their own. Perhaps mom or dad has passed, and the remaining parent is now living alone in a house that’s much larger than their current needs. As we age, maintaining the old homestead can also become a major issue and a tremendous burden, both physically and financially.
Before having the talk, take a close look at the situation. Are there rooms that are no longer used, except maybe for storage? Are normal repairs not being made? What about finances? Is the home still affordable based on changes to income and earnings?
Before jumping into a conversation, prepare yourself with information about housing alternatives. If independent living is still a viable option, maybe a move into a smaller home, condo, patio home or apartment would be beneficial. If health concerns are present, the next move could be into a senior apartment setting or an assisted-living facility where they no longer have to deal with a wide variety of tasks associated with living at home. Nursing home care might be the best alternative for those with serious health-related issues.
If you have no idea where to start, there are professionals called geriatric care managers who can analyze your situation and come up with viable solutions based on your medical and financial situation. This third-party assistance often proves very beneficial for adult children who live quite a distance from their parent or parents.
Another very good resource is your community’s Department of Senior Services, which can often provide assistance with many age-related issues. Best of all, there is typically no charge for this assistance, so it doesn’t hurt to do a little research, make a call and schedule a phone or in-person meeting.
Every family — and every situation — is different. My best advice is to be observant and know when the time is right to bring up this difficult subject. But don’t delay as your parent(s) might actually be waiting for you to make the first move and start the conversation. And if my office can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to call.
