How to Talk to Elderly Parents About Accepting Help
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Taking care of an elderly parent comes with a lot of unforeseen challenges. While many adult children may believe they’re prepared to care for their aging loved ones when the time comes, it’s important to understand how to talk to elderly parents about accepting help before they actually need it.
Having a conversation about a future where your parents can no longer care for themselves is difficult and scary for all involved. In this post, we’ll offer tips on how to talk to aging parents about their future.
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Supporting Elderly Parents
The best way to support our elderly parents is to keep the lines of communication open — however, not every senior is comfortable admitting that they simply can’t do everything on their own anymore.
If you’re concerned and unsure of what to do with elderly parents that need help, start by having an open and honest conversation about your fears.
How to Talk to Aging Parents About Their Future
1. Start Early
Don’t wait until your parents are already struggling to start the conversation about their future. Getting the details nailed down and agreed upon well before your parents are dealing with chronic health problems or exhibiting early signs of Alzheimer’s will greatly reduce the amount of stress involved when these problems inevitably arise.
2. Choose Your Moment
Don’t spring the conversation on your parents out of nowhere. Communicate to them ahead of time that you would like to have a serious conversation about their future and what you can do to support their vision for their golden years.
If you and your parents have a good relationship where open communication is encouraged, it may prove much less stressful to start the conversation than if you’re trying to manage the emotions of difficult or manipulative elderly parents. If your parents prove resistant, make it clear that you’re only looking to empower them age on their own terms, not telling them what to do.
3. Come Prepared
If you have specific concerns, now is the time to voice them. Do your homework and come prepared to discuss things like caregiving preferences, resources for seniors who are no longer able to drive, creating a checklist for aging in place, or potentially moving into your home.
4. Come From a Place of Empathy and Be Ready to Listen
As difficult as this conversation is for you, remember that this is just as emotionally challenging for your parents — if not moreso. Emotions may run high but try to let cooler heads prevail. If you find yourself getting impatient with your elderly parents, calmly remove yourself from the situation and try again when the situation is less tense.
Remember that you are not responsible for your parents’ happiness, and all you can do is your best.
5. Ask For Help
If you’re struggling with how to talk to elderly parents about accepting help, don’t be afraid to ask for help yourself! Consider asking another close family member, spouse, or friend to help you broach the subject and get the conversation rolling.
To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at 1-800-GRISWOLD or find a Caregiver near you.
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Date: 2025-06-24
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