Getting older is an inevitable part of people's lives. When it comes to your aging parents, there will come a time when you need to have uncomfortable but very important conversations that will help everyone navigate this new life stage. With open communication and candid discussions, the aging process will be easier for those involved.
Health Discussions
The first and possibly most important thing to discuss with your parents is their health and how they want to approach decisions regarding their well-being. This will take a lot of honesty as everyone will need to fully admit to the situation. That’s the only way your parents will get the care they need. Discuss what problems they’re experiencing and work together to find solutions. The conversation may be difficult at times as your parent may not want to admit that they need assistance. Here are some tips if they’re refusing to use things like walking aids.
Financial Discussions
This can be a difficult topic to talk about because it can cause a lot of worry and panic between family members. Assure your parents that knowing a bit more about their finances can only help enable you to help them in the future. Discussing things like health insurance and financial records can be useful for future care.
Medical Decisions
There will need to be a lot of discussion regarding end-of-life decisions and care. Your parents might already have an idea about what they want, so listen and write things down. First discuss the necessity of living assistance. This should be a topic you revisit a few times to make sure nothing has changed. You'll also want to discuss final planning details, who has power of attorney, etc.
Bonding
Another important conversation you should have is that of bonding with your parents. You want to create new memories with them as these will carry you on after they’re gone. Learn their life’s story and hear about their past; it’ll only be good for you, and they’ll appreciate your interest.
These conversations will be awkward as they push you into uncomfortable topics. But these important conversations to have with your aging parents are necessary to give everyone their best life and keep everything as smooth as possible.