11 Questions To Ask Aging Parents
It’s hard to know where to start the important conversations about future care needs with our aging parents. Trying to figure out what questions to ask aging parents to show your concern without sounding greedy or overbearing is a problem, too.
The health and safety of our aging parents is a serious issue. As the body ages, it breaks down and requires care. So, why do we ignore something we know is an eventuality?
One of the reasons neither we as the adult children nor our parents want to discuss declining health is the fear of loss it brings up in both of us. So, we either ignore it or cautiously tip toe around the subject. Without talking about it you’ll never understand your parent’s true feelings about their care.
By not having “the conversation”, critical decisions are postponed until there’s a crisis. Unless you revel in the stress and frustration of making critical decisions during the heat of a crisis, make it a point to get the conversation rolling. Having a series of heartfelt, honest conversations between you and your aging parents goes a long way .
To help you ease into talking with your aging parents about their care, use the 11 questions posted Mr. ElderCareOnline.com. I’ve even created a downloadable PDF - 11 Simple Starter Questions Every Adult Child Should Ask Their Aging Parents - you can print out with plenty of space to record your parent’s answers.
Remember to take your time. It’s not easy for anyone to face the likelihood of incapacity or death. Be understanding and expect some resistance. But over time, you will have a better understanding of your parent’s concerns and know what steps you can take so the future is less stressful for both of you.
Let me know how these work for you.
Wishing you my best,
Martin
Filed under: Elder Care, Caregiver Stress Management
Loading ...