The prospect of a major change, such as moving, can be exciting. There are many factors to consider and choices to make and while the decision to move to a senior community is ultimately yours, it’s important to confer with your trusted friends and family members. It’s especially important to speak with your adult children who may have unique feelings, perspectives, and thoughts on the impact it can have on them. Here are some tips to seamlessly navigate this conversation.
Discuss Mutual Needs and Expectations
To open the conversation with your children, prepare to have open, transparent dialogue and actively listen to your children’s needs and expectations, too. Voicing why you want to make this move can ease your children’s concerns and make this change a positive one. Both you and your adult children should be able to openly share concerns, needs, and expectations about life during and after the move. Discussing the reasons why you want to move can help make this change a positive one.
Think of this conversation as a way to get on the same page. They want what’s best for you and may be surprised by this change. They may not know about the modern benefits of community living, or may have complicated feelings about how your move will change the family dynamics.
Use this conversation as an opportunity to involve your adult children in your move. The more involved they are in the process, the more confident they will feel in the decision. Take some time to discuss what the moving process will look like and if you need help with different parts of it, like choosing a community, selling your home, packing your belongings, or dealing with the financial aspects.
Tour Communities Together
The best way for your adult children to get a feel of what life will be like for you in your new community is to experience it. Invite them to tour communities with you. Family tours allow everyone to explore the community and visualize a potential future, which can ease the transition for your adult children.
Touring communities together is beneficial for all of you. It’s good to get your loved one’s opinions and perspectives on potential communities. They may see things that you miss. They can also help take notes on each community, keep things organized, and ask key questions you may not have thought of.
Review these helpful resources before your senior living community tours:
- Checklist for Comparing Life Care vs. Rental Senior Living Communities
- Your Senior Living Journey: Navigating Tours and Tailoring Your Perfect Lifestyle
- Must-Haves for an Independent Living Community
Have a Transparent Discussion About Finances
Senior living expenses are an important point of discussion. While you don’t need to go in-depth, share your general plan to cover the costs of your new home. You will want to talk about your current and future financial plan. Bring community fees and what comes with those costs to this discussion. Many communities offer housekeeping, landscaping, and other services and amenities that enable you to consolidate your expenses and alleviate the responsibility of household management.
If you are considering a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), bring your Life Care contract to this discussion and review it together. These communities offer predictable costs even if your care needs change. This can give you and your children peace of mind that your finances and well-being are accounted for long-term.
Craft a Shared Vision for the Future
Your loved ones may feel that this change is bittersweet. Help them focus on the positives by sharing what you’re looking forward to. Maybe you’re excited about finding a sense of belonging in a community of like-minded peers. Maybe this community empowers you to live an active and luxurious lifestyle. Or maybe you’re excited to prioritize your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being with the community’s services and amenities.
Emphasize the things you’re looking forward to in your new community and talk about how your loved ones fit into your vision of the future. Discuss what you can do to ensure you still spend time together. Your children and other loved ones can visit you whenever they’d like and, of course, you’re able to come and go as you please. Talk about how often you can see each other, what you will do, and what special occasions you will celebrate together.
Join Us at The Stayton
Deciding to move into a senior living community is a big step for you and your family. Senior living communities are designed to make this transition easy for both residents and their loved ones. At The Stayton, we are here to help you and your children ensure a smooth move and transition into community life. Here, you are sure to experience the finer things in life—with on-site dining venues, a salon and barbershop, a library, a fitness center, and more, along with a vibrant community culture and robust events calendar. No day is dull at The Stayton.
Schedule an exclusive tour or attend a community event to experience our community firsthand—of course, your children are welcome to tour our community with you.
