How to Talk About Senior Living With Your Adult Children

Once you’ve made up your mind about moving into a senior living community, it’s important that you share your plans with those it may impact, including your adult children. They may have questions about this decision, or experience a number of complicated emotions about the change.

Before you have this conversation, ensure that you come prepared to answer their questions. In this article, we’ll provide some tips on how to talk about a move to a senior living community with your adult children.

Be Ready to Answer Questions

Your adult children will probably have some questions once you tell them you plan on making the move to a senior living community. Here are some potential questions they might ask.

Aren’t you a little too young to move into a senior living community? Response: Modern senior living communities are built to support people who live active lifestyles.
What can a senior living community offer that you can’t already get at home? Response: A sense of freedom from daily chores to focus on the things that truly matter in life.
What happens if your health needs change after you move in? Response: A continuing care retirement community offers a wide range of on-site health services.
Luxury senior living? Isn’t that expensive? Response: Moving into a senior living community can be a smart financial decision and helps consolidate expenses.
Do you think you’ll truly be happy there? Response: A senior living community will make it easier for me to socialize and pursue the things in life I care most about.

If you’ve already narrowed down your options to certain communities, you can get more specific in the examples you provide. For example, sharing available services and amenities or care options.

Confidently Share Your Needs

While it is a nice gesture to involve your adult children in your decision to move into a senior living community, ultimately it’s your future and you need to do what makes you happy. If you crave socialization, then let your children know that. If you need motivation to stay active, that’s another item you should feel comfortable sharing. Think about and recognize your needs.

It’s possible that your adult children didn’t even consider that you might want more opportunities to meet people or freedom from keeping up with home maintenance and housework. Every child has a narrative they’ve built up in their head about their parents. But needs change over time.

You should feel comfortable being open and transparent about what’s best for you.

Invite Them to Join You On a Tour

One of the best ways to involve your adult children in your search for a senior living community is by inviting them along on a tour of a community or communities that rank highly on your list.

On a senior living tour, your child or children can see what community life is like while exploring community grounds, enjoying a meal, learning about services, and more. A senior living tour is a great way to help you and your child learn how this new way of living can benefit you.

Be Open About Finances

Moving into a senior living community can be a smart financial decision, depending on the community and your preferred lifestyle. For instance, a Life Care community offers on-site health services at predictable rates, if they are ever needed.

Choosing where you will receive care, and how it will be accounted for, offers stability and predictability in the event you ever need additional support. Your adult children likely already know that the cost of health services can quickly add up if you’re paying market rates.

A helpful step to take with your adult child or children is to walk them through available care services at your senior living community options and showcase the level of care provided.

Explore Life at GreenFields of Geneva

GreenFields of Geneva is a luxury senior living community that pairs elevated living spaces with resort-style services and amenities and an exceptional level of on-site care. We take great pride in our community and we sincerely believe that both you and your adult children will be excited about your move here.