What to Do If a Sibling Needs Assisted Living Care
Many often think of parents and grandparents needing care, but what if the a sibling needs assisted care?
As Baby Boomers start to age, there will be an increase in the number of those needing assistance. Perhaps your sibling falls into this age demographic (described as those who were born between 1946 and 1964).
Or maybe your sibling is younger, but you notice that they’re having difficulty due to memory problems and possible signs of dementia. Perhaps an accident or injury left them needing more help than is typical.
Wondering how you can help your sibling in need? We’ve outlined a few of the things you’ll need to know if your sibling needs care that can only be provided at an assisted living community.
5 Things to Do If a Sibling Needs Assisted Living Care
1. Evaluate the Situation
Before making a decision, take a quick overview of the situation. Document instances or times when your sibling needed help. Having this list will help you encourage them to consider assisted living services when the time is right to approach the subject.
Some of the questions you may want to consider for include:
- How many times has your sibling fallen in the past six months?
- Is your sibling able to perform tasks of daily living?
- Has your sibling become less mobile over the last six months?
- Are you concerned about your sibling’s ability to drive or get to doctor appointments?
2. Learn About Assisted Living Options
At West Bladen, we pride ourselves on being family owned and operated. This means our residents get care from a dependable and friendly staff, not some nameless conglomerate or corporation. We offer a regular slate of activities and events for our residents who love living at West Bladen.
At West Bladen, our flat fee pricing means you won’t get “nickel and dimed” like you do at many assisted living communities. This is something to consider as you’re looking into assisted living communities.
Not sure what you should look for in an assisted living community? We go in-depth into this issue in a previous article that has all the information you need to make an informed choice.
3. Have a Conversation With Your Sibling
If your sibling doesn’t recognize that they need help, this can be a very difficult discussion. However, following are some guidelines that can help facilitate the talk:
- Discuss your concern about their current situation. It may help to mention some of the situations you have observed where your sibling could have used an extra hand.
- Emphasize that you want them to remain independent. You don’t want your sibling to think that you are taking away their freedom. In actuality, assisted living allows them the opportunity to live independently for longer.
- It’s also good to point out that in many cases, assisted living can be a more economical choice than owning your own home because you won’t have to worry about expensive maintenance, homeowner’s insurance and property taxes.
4. Let Your Sibling Have a Say in the Process
After all, this represents a major lifestyle change for them. Let them look over potential assisted living communities and take a tour together. Always listen to their concerns and preferences.
At West Bladen, we’re more than happy to welcome you and answer any questions that you may need.
5. Provide the Emotional Support That They Need
Your sibling probably knows you better than almost anyone in your life. In many cases, they’ve been there for you through good times and bad.
For your sibling, making the transition to assisted living is a big step. We realize that there is a period of adjustment for your brother or sister to get used to the assisted living lifestyle, but we believe they’ll find the tradeoff definitely worth it.
During this time, it’s important that you provide the kind of support that they’ll need. This may include:
- Encouragement
- Remind them that they’re doing the right thing
- Express relief that you know they’ll be taken care of
- Emphasize that they will remain closely connected with family
West Bladen: Helping Families Throughout the Bladenboro, NC Community
We believe in supporting families.
Afterall, family is at the heart of who we are. Those around us, whether they be parents, grandparents or siblings, have shaped us and made us into who we are. The times spent with them are etched into our earliest memories.
This is why, when you arrive at West Bladen, we treat you like family. From our friendly staff to our delicious dining to our many activities, we want you to feel at home and discover why so many of our residents love living at West Bladen
Contact us today to schedule a tour.