Question
I'm beginning to search for an assisted living facility for my parents. My mom, who's 82, has type 2 diabetes but is in relatively good health. But my 84-year-old dad had a stroke a year ago and needs a walker to get around. Should I plan on bringing them along on tours so they can choose for themselves, or should I go alone and only involve them once I've found the right place?
— Anonymous Caring.com community member
Answer
answered:
Both. Generally speaking, the best strategy is first to tour all the facilities you're interested in by yourself. Then, when you have two in mind that you think are the best, take your parents along to visit just those two. That way, you don't overwhelm them, which can easily happen if they're barraged with too many choices.
That said, it's important to involve your parents in the choice right from the start. The best way to do this is to set up a series of short family meetings to agree on a decision process and to get a sense of what your parents' priorities are...
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