How do I tell my elderly friend or family member that they need assisted living?

If your elderly friend or family member is in need of assisted living it can be a very difficult thing to bring up. The easiest way to move someone into an assisted living situation is for him or her to admit the problem and willingly make arrangements. Many elderly people, for understandable reasons, are not happy to admit that they can no longer care for themselves adequately.

This is a very delicate topic for many people, and it is important to keep this in mind while considering your own approach. Since the issue goes right to the core of people's most private and personal lives the problem needs to be taken very seriously and treated with kindness and confidentiality. Admitting to oneself and one's family and friends that you are aware of your need for assisted living is a very big step, and it will require a great deal of comfort to do so.

How can you help this along? Be kind, be respectful and be patient. People respond much better to kindness and respect than they do to abrupt, pointed remarks. Try to understand how difficult it must be to come to terms with this issue and the kind of emotional states it can bring about. Make your elderly friend or family member aware of the fact that you care about them and want the best for them and that your motivation for bringing the issue up with them is only out of concern for their well-being.