Convincing Siblings that Assisted Living is the Best Option for Your Mom

March 2, 2023 by ·
Convincing Siblings: Assisted Living in Daphne AL

Convincing Siblings: Assisted Living in Daphne AL

The past year was tough. You’ve been looking after your elderly mother for some time. Maybe you have siblings who — for one reason or another — haven’t contributed to her support. They have plenty of opinions, but you are the one doing the work. You are the one dealing with the constant stress and strain of being a family caregiver.

You understand that assisted living is a great elder care option to consider. Unfortunately, your mother has been refusing to consider it and you feel those siblings have something to do with that.
How can you possibly convince other family members to at least consider elder care beyond you being just about the only one who does anything to support your mother?

Learn Everything You Can About Assisted Living

The best thing you can do for yourself at this stage in the game is to learn as much as possible about assisted living. This doesn’t simply mean going online and reading a few articles and blogs about it.

This means reaching out to local assisted living communities, speaking to administrators and other staff members, and possibly taking a tour of the facility itself. While you are on that tour — whether in person or virtual — make sure to ask questions and pay attention to questions other people are asking, too.

When you learn as much as you can about assisted living, you will be more prepared when discussing this elder care option with your mother, other family members, or friends who have strong opinions about it already.

Encourage Them to Take a Tour

If they live in the area, great. Encourage them to go on a tour with you or, at the very least, on their own schedule. If they don’t live close, find comparable assisted living communities near them and have them take a tour.

Taking a tour is the best way to see, firsthand, just what assisted living can offer. Most people view assisted living through an abstract lens, but when you get down to the brass tacks, you begin to realize how valuable it is and can be.

Discuss the Struggles of Family Caregiving

Most of your siblings or other family members or friends probably don’t have any clue just how difficult it is being a family caregiver. It’s easy to talk about supporting somebody from a distance, but when you’re in the midst of it, in the muck and mire, so to speak, day after day, that changes things.

Talk to them about the stress you’re experiencing. Discuss the challenges you face taking care of your mother each and every day. Then, you can more effectively transition the topic to assisted living.

Tell Them to Step Up

Bottom line is this: if people needed to step up and help rather than just talk about things, a lot of things would be different. If you challenge them to step up and put their money where their mouth is, they may very well be more willing to listen to what you have to say.

And, once you’re armed with plenty of information about assisted living, you will have plenty to say.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to Assisted Living in Daphne, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Assisted Living Daphne AL · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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