Maybe you see your parents only a couple of times a year. During your last visit, you were shocked at how much mental and physical ground they seemed to have lost since your last visit.
Alternatively, if you live closer to them, you might have a much clearer picture of the day-to-day struggles they have to accomplish their activities of daily life (ADL). You want to make sure they are safe as they enter the final phase of their lives.
How can you urge your parents to go into assisted living?
Even if they already planned ahead for this transition years ago, they still may balk and resist any talk of now being the time to implement their senior living plans. The problem is that by the time dementia in the elderly becomes noticeable to others, the elderly person has likely already lost access to the part of their brains that handle the executive functioning abilities that would allow them to accept the reality of their situations.
Use minor crises to drive home your point
The first time your elderly parent stumbles and falls or misses a payment and causes a utility cut-off or other lapse, use this as your talking point to illustrate how they are no longer safe living on their own. Don’t wait for the situation to worsen — because it will.
Seek advice about guardianships
In some cases, the kindest thing that you can do is pursue guardianship over your mom or dad (or both). The elderly have the same rights to self-determination as any other adult, but if they are no longer of sound mind, it can be a kindness to step in at that point.
