10 Ways to Help Elderly Parents Transition to Assisted Living

Have the talk

Broaching the subject of assisted living probably won’t be an easy conversation to have with your parent, but these golden rules of conversation will really help. Timing is another factor. “When possible, I recommend adult children talk with their parents before a need arises for assisted living,” says Karen Whitehead, LMSW who has a private practice in Atlanta and has been through the transition process with her own mother. Whitehead recommends using “I messages” to defuse defensive reactions. “Rather than saying, ‘You can’t take care of the house anymore and you’re going to break a hip if you keep falling, say, ‘I’m concerned about your recent falls and all of the upkeep in the house,'” says Whitehead.