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Not2Easy Asked August 2023

Is it wrong to encourage parents to seek senior living?

My parents live with us and don't really require all that much care yet. In fact, my father pretty much rejects any help, and often winds up in a mess with his insurance or bills. My mother has always preferred to pretend ignorance and have everyone do everything for her. They've been with us for four years and I am already burned out. I find myself getting frustrated easily and tired of the lack of respect, unappreciation, and sometimes thinly veiled accusations from my father. He is a very negative and unpleasant person and a pro at playing the victim. He really is not nice to my mother which causes a lot of stress for everyone. He's been told about it for years but it has never gotten better.


Lately he is playing on some minor health issues and always talking about being sickly and dying, how neither of them will be around much longer, etc. I worry about what that will do to my mother's mental health, even though she ignores much of what he says and does. That is her way of dealing with him for 50+ years.


I very much dread the day that they need more care. I do have two sisters but they live 6 and 10 hours away, so everything rests on my husband and myself.


Any suggestions on how to encourage them to seek out more help, or even make the move to senior living? My father has researched a few places whenever he is mad at everyone, but has never really checked any out. We don't say too much because we don't want them to feel like we are throwing them out. But it feels more and more like that would be the best option for everyone.

BurntCaregiver Aug 2023
Newsflash: There is no way to that THEY (your parents) will allow themselves to feel anything other than them being thrown out by you and your husband. They are going to play the victim hard to try and manipulate you and your husband into letting them stay. You're not wrong to make them leave your house. You aren't being a bad daughter or throwing them out on the street. If their reaction is that you are, that's on them. Not you.

They will both certainly start up with the guilt-tripping, negativity, and gaslighting, but ignore it. You have to ignore it. They have to move. Don't get played.

Please stop taking their crap and senior-brat behavior. Your father "researching" places to move when he's "mad" is paramount to the brat-child who packs a suitcase and threatens to run away from home.


This is nonsense. All of you are adults here and you even say in your post that they don't really require care. Them moving into a senior living community is totally realistic. So please don't second-guess and question yourself otherwise.

Offer to help them find a place and to move them in. You don't owe them an explanation for why you want them to move, but if you want to explain just tell them truthfully. That you and your husband would like to live alone. That's all the explanation necessary.
Not2Easy Aug 2023
Oh he has "run away" three times. Packed up everything that he wanted and left, alone. The last time he got all the way to Florida, which was always his utopia. He didn't stay down there 24 hours. Hated it after about 4 hours. We've told him he is out of second chances if he does it again.
lealonnie1 Aug 2023
In my world, it's wrong NOT to expect parents to move into senior living. I watched nothing but resentment on moms part for taking her mother in, which ruined my childhood and my mother's life, not to mention grandma's life. Who benefited from mom taking her mother in? Nobody. And that's how things often turn out, yet guilt and obligation often drive a person to take a parent in when it's the worst decision for all involved and ruins all the relationships in the home!

Living apart encourages autonomy, socialization with peers, hobbies and activities, on site care, and the fostering of better relationships between family members due to less resentment in general.

Good luck to you.
anonymous1732518 Aug 2023
Sorry lealonnie1

Senior living may be fine when everyone is well, it can be quite different if a health issue, COVID, for example is in play.

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funkygrandma59 Aug 2023
No it's not wrong to encourage them to seek out senior living facilities. It's actually healthy for all parties involved.
Showing them all the positives like being around folks their own age, having daily activities to keep them busy if they so choose, and having fun in the last portion of their lives you would think would be a no brainer.
So set up some appointments at several of these places and tell them that as much as you love them, there will come a point when their care will just be too much for you and you would rather they spend their final years in a place that has their best interests and care in mind.
And the nice thing is that when your dad gets on your moms last nerve while she's living in either independent or assisted living she can just go down the hall to visit with a lady friend to get away from him.
You and hubby matter in this equation as well, and deserve to enjoy your lives as well, apart from your parents.
You've paid your dues caring for them for 4 years already, so now it's time for you to get your life back, so you and hubby can start doing things that you enjoy and not have to worry about mom and dad.
Someone has to take the first step and hopefully that someone will be you.
anonymous1732518 Aug 2023
This reminds me of an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" where Ray's folks did this, moving to one of these places. They were so bad, they were asked to leave Lol
Dawn88 Aug 2023
It's YOUR HOME, make this clear that they do NOT run the show.
I have a feeling they have gotten a free ride 4 years, which is ridiculous.

When you feel that trapped feeling, take your house and own family back.
BurntCaregiver Aug 2023
Amen to that, Dawn88
felixmental Aug 2023
It is absolutely the right thing to do. We waited until my mother's dementia made her a danger to herself and others and then had to force her to move. Seniors should move to a retirement home when they still have their mind and can settle in and make friends. Our mother has no short term memory and she cannot even remember where she is, her room number, and she is too belligerent to make friends.
anonymous1732518 Aug 2023
Maybe being belligerent isn't all that bad.
Grandma1954 Aug 2023
They have a good deal.
They are living with you and there is no reason that they would want to change that.
YOU are going to have to initiate the conversation and tell them point blank that you are in no position to help them physically and it is getting to the point where they will both need more help.
Also mention you are getting older and you have your own physical limitations.
I would set a deadline. If you want to be generous tell them the First of the Year. if you want to push it along by Thanksgiving would be plenty of time.
The big question would be would they want to live near where they are now, where they have friends, know the area or would they want to move closer to your siblings.
(If anyone is POA I would suggest that they locate near that person)
If there is no POA this is another discussion you should be having as well.
Not2Easy Aug 2023
I am the financial POA and they would want to stay near here. No one is for medical, though I am first contact for all of my mom's doctors, and have been given access to each of their medical portals.
MeDolly Aug 2023
I would give them a notice they need to be out in 90 days, preferably to AL.

My mother is 98, don't assume that they won't be around much longer.

Fawnby Aug 2023
Why would it be wrong to help them find a place where all their needs can be met and they can have a full social life, activities and friends?

jkm999 Aug 2023
No matter how nicely you ask they will think that you are "throwing them out" but that's ok. At this point they need to move to a senior living place where they can continue to age in place moving from independent or assisted living on to memory care. With some activities available and other people to talk (complain) to they will eventually settle in. Note that I did not say they'll like it. My dad will always regret and complain about having to move out of his house to assisted living (he's 102!) but has accepted that "this is an ok place, I guess" which is fine.

You should go alone to check out some of the places and find out all the details. Then you can take your parents with you to visit the ones you think are most appropriate. Then tell them to pick one - if there is a choice. Sometimes there is a waiting list. Don't offer them any place that has a waiting list because that postpones this move. Get the move done ASAP, just like ripping off a bandaid.

You can't keep them forever and the earlier they settle in to their new space the better for everyone.

againx100 Aug 2023
It's not wrong. My parents moved in here in their early 70s, when they didn't really need much help but also really couldn't/wouldn't take care of their house and yard. Dad died within a year. And mom stayed another 6 years until her mild cognitive impairment went on to become dementia. Until I said "NO MORE!" and put her AL. I had an activated DPOA to do so. She was hurt and angry. BUT she quickly got over it is comfortable enough in AL.

So, if you're realllly ready for them to go, make a plan and lower the boom. Expect some b.s. and let it roll off your shoulders. Once they're gone, you'll be so much happier. It's soooo nice to have your house to yourself!

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