If your loved one is against moving to an assisted living facility, it can be a topic of concern and a strain on your relationship. While you simply want them to be safer and part of a thriving community, they might have several reasons for being hesitant. Understanding is key to having a productive, healthy conversation in which both of you are truly listening to the other. Here are the four most prominent causes behind your loved one’s fears.

Why Your Loved One Might Be Hesitant About Assisted Care

1. Wanting to Remain Independent

Losing their independence is one of the main concerns of seniors. Even if they are no longer able to live on their own, coming to terms with this is one of the most difficult parts of aging. It may help to explain that an assisted living facility’s purpose is to allow them to enjoy their independence in an environment that’s safer than home, with new friends and activities that are meant to brighten and prolong life, not hinder it.

2. Not Wanting to Leave Their Home

Leaving familiar surroundings is a source of upset, too. Your loved one’s house has been their home for years, maybe even decades, and it’s full of family memories and belongings of priceless sentimental value. Help them by focusing on the positives. The new facility will be a ready-made home with the opportunity for companionship and community. They’d be able to furnish the space with many of their own belongings, and they won’t have to bother with tedious tasks like laundry, dusting, vacuuming, and cooking unless they really want to.

3. Believing It’s the Same as a Nursing Home

A common misconception about assisted living facilities is that they’re synonymous with nursing homes. But there are significant differences. Nursing homes provide advanced medical services to residents with very limited independence, many of whom require specialized care, such as physical therapy or dementia monitoring. Assisted care facilities, on the other hand, allow your loved one to enjoy the independence and privacy of home but with the knowledge that additional support is immediately available.

Explain these differences to your loved one, stressing assisted care’s focus on independent living. When the conversation reaches the proper point, a tour of an assisted living community will be living, breathing proof of how different it is from the picture in their mind.

4. Not Wanting to Believe They Need It

Perhaps the hardest mental hurdle for your loved one to overcome is denial. Moving into an assisted care facility is often the first concrete sign of declining health, which is difficult to face and accept. A therapist or senior support group can help them deal with these fears in a healthy and positive setting, so look for one of these solutions in your area if you need extra help with the conversation. Taking an interest in religion or spirituality may also benefit them and bring them peace of mind.

Atmore Nursing Center in Escambia County, AL, is a licensed assisted living facility that will provide your loved one with a balance of independent living and supportive care. Their services will be tailored to your loved one’s unique needs, ranging from household help to medication management and beyond. With 24-hour staff, emergency call systems, and a secure facility, you’ll never question their safety. Learn more about The Meadows of Atmore online and call (251) 368-9121 to schedule a tour.