Your parents were your caregiver, protector, mentor and source of emotional and financial support as you went through childhood and eventually became an adult who could take care of yourself. When the roles reverse and it is you whom your parents must now depend on, the transition is one that may be met with more than little resistance from your parents.
You may have noticed–or it may have been brought to your attention by another family member or close friend–that your elderly mother or father’s personal hygiene habits have been slipping. You may have noticed a sudden flux of past-due notices arriving in the mail, when your parents were always diligent in paying the bills. Your Mom or Dad may have started forgetting things or forgetting directions to places they normally frequent. Maybe Mom or Dad suddenly started having unexplained falls (indicating a possible medical condition) when they’re home alone.
Of course, when you ask if everything is okay, they’ll insist they are fine. If you suggest hiring a personal care aide, they will scoff at the idea and tell you to stop worrying about them. Independence is the one thing no one relinquishes without a fight. Your parents would feel uncomfortable allowing their adult children to dictate what they do or how they can live their lives. In addition, aging parents tend to be reluctant to discuss financial matters with their adult children. Convincing your elderly parents that they need help won’t be easy, but it can be done with the right approach.
