4 tips for talking with a parent about moving to a nursing home

If you want to have a conversation with your parents about a nursing home, it's important to do it respectfully and delicately. Here's how to get started.

Aging parents often want to stay in the home they've always known. However, as their abilities to take care of themselves deteriorate, independent living may no longer be possible.

No matter what, it stings when people are told that they may no longer be able to live independently. You can minimize that sting by making the matter about you and not your parents. For example, you can say something like, "I am having a hard time sleeping and focusing at work because I worry you may fall again," instead of, "You need to go into a home because you can't be alone." Focusing on how the move will lessen your worries, without sounding selfish, reframes the conversation.

Chances are you will have several conversations. Aging people need time to come to terms with the idea. Bring the matter up casually and drop it as necessary. Give them space by employing the principle of focusing the matter on you. For instance, you can say, "Dad, it would help me feel better if we check out a couple of retirement homes. Will you humour me? You don't need to make any decisions, but I'm curious to see what they're like." If your parents have friends in a retirement home, use that to your advantage. You can suggest you visit them together.

In many cases, something bad happens to parents living alone. For instance, they accidentally set something on fire or fall and have no way of contacting anyone. These occurrences are no guarantee that parents will see the sense in moving. In these cases, you may need to assemble a team of your parents' loved ones and health staff and stage an intervention. Regardless, it's essential that you give your parents as much control as possible. For example, instead of saying, "We're moving you into a home right now. Stop arguing," you could say, "Which nursing homes would you like to visit? Your friend Jimmy is in this one."

Many homes allow prospective clients to do trial runs for up to a month. Explain to your parents that they can return home if they don't feel comfortable. That peace of mind may be the push they need to try out a facility.

These conversations are best started as early and proactively as possible. They will likely proceed gradually, with parents taking their time to warm up to the idea. Give them as much control as you can and keep the focus on yourself. Your parents don't want to feel judged; they need love and respect.