Talking about the future can be difficult for
anyone, especially those with aging parents. While you, the child, and your
parents, may both be avoiding the conversation, it’s vital that you discuss future plans so that your parents remain happy while getting the care they need.
Initiating that conversation, and keeping it positive, is the hard part!
If you’re worried about speaking with your
parents about their future, don’t fret. You can do plenty of things ahead of
and during the conversation to keep things painless and thoughtful. Read these
tips on how to talk to aging parents:
- Have a Plan. Go into the conversation with a game plan.
Know what you want to address and try to keep an agenda with the questions you
need answering. For every problem you think of, try to have a few potential
solutions to guide the conversation. And be prepared to have this conversation
with them a few times– the future is complicated, and you want to be sensitive
to your parents’ feelings and not pressure them.
- Include Them in Decisions. Speaking of your parents’ feelings, include
them in the decision-making process. The last thing you want is to make them
feel like you’re taking away all their independence. Empower them to take the
lead in decision-making and make them more comfortable as things change.
- Be Conscious of Your Tone. Be careful of the tone you’re using while
you’re talking with them. It’s good to have a plan and be honest with your
concerns, but you don’t want to scare them by being too pushy or pressure them
into doing something they’re uncomfortable with. Try to be as respectful as
possible, using a collaborative approach.
- Watch Terminology. The words you use during these conversations
have more of an effect than you may think. Since you may be speaking about
end-of-life plans, many of our words have a negative or “morbid” connotation,
and you want to avoid that if possible. Try to follow their lead with their
terminology; for example, how do they refer to death? Give them the distance
they need when talking about these topics.
- Listen. More than anything else, listen to what your parents are thinking and feeling. Hear what they say and try your best to understand their wants and needs. Speaking over them or interrupting can create a communication barrier, so you want to do your best to have an open line. And don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions; it’s crucial to fully understand what they’re saying so you don’t make assumptions.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer service. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. Our staff will do whatever it takes to make our workplace environment positive, which translates to your experience with us.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services has
served the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on
being large enough to provide professionalism and
reliability yet small enough to provide
personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs,
please visit our website or call one of our
locations today.
Sources:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/talk-about-future-with-senior-174484.htm
https://www.joincake.com/blog/how-to-talk-to-aging-parents-about-their-future/
