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Connect with a Lifestyle Leasing ConsultantBlog | March 11, 2025
Talking to Your Parents About Moving to a Retirement Community in Calgary
Visiting home is a nostalgic, emotional experience that transports you back to childhood. The familiar smells of the kitchen, the creak of the stairs, and the sounds of your loved ones can evoke powerful feelings. However, visits home can also reveal difficult realities, particularly for adult children of aging parents, as they may begin to notice declining abilities and increased challenges in parents. Often, this signals the need for a sensitive conversation about exploring the option of moving to a retirement community in Calgary.
Starting the Conversation
While this conversation may cause you a lot of anxiety and uncertainty, it is important to realize that your parents might be feeling this way, too. The same memories about your childhood home that you hold dear are also important to your parents. They could be feeling vulnerable and scared thinking about having to leave a place that holds such sentimental value.
- Approach this conversation with empathy and patience.
- Acknowledge that it will likely bring up difficult emotions and that there may be many reasons why your parent doesn’t want to move.
- Ensure your parents that you want them to be actively involved in the search.
- Bring up the positive reasons for moving to retirement living, like opportunities to make new friends, reduced stress around cooking and cleaning, and the option to live within a retirement community that prioritizes their health and safety.
- Be patient. You should be ready to have the conversation more than once.
- Start this conversation earlier than later. Having an established plan in place ensures that you and your loved ones do not have to make the move in reaction to an accident, injury, or illness in the future.
Do The Research
Once your parents have come to the decision to move to a retirement community in Calgary, answer the following questions, using them to create a checklist of questions to ask prospective communities as you search:
- Determine what type of care your parents require to ensure you find them the right type of suite and level of care.
- Do your parents require some assistance with housekeeping or simply wish to downsize with amenities and services close by? Consider independent living.
- Do your parents require assisted care services? Trico LivingWell can provide everything from basic medication reminders to comprehensive daily support and mobility assistance.
- Do your parents need support with dementia or other cognitive conditions? Consider memory care.
There may be points in this journey where you and your parents disagree. If you face this challenge, it never hurts to bring in another perspective from a different family member or caregiver should your parents need another opinion.
Touring A Community
Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to visit retirement communities in Calgary to ensure you’re finding the right fit for your parent. Schedule some tours at prospective communities and be prepared to discuss the following with the community’s representative:
- The date your parent would like to move in
- How much your parent is able/willing to pay for care
- Types of social activities your parent may enjoy
- The type of care your parent requires
- Any specialized diets or medical attention your parent may need
- Concerns you or your parent have about downsizing and moving
At Trico LivingWell, we have several programs that will help make your moving process stress-free.
Don’t be afraid to express your concerns about your parent’s move. A good community will address these concerns and more!
Join us at Trico LivingWell Today
While having the conversation about moving to retirement living can be hard, remember that this move is meant to support your parents in maintaining their independence for longer, not taking it away. At Trico LivingWell, we believe in supporting our residents’ independence through a strong wellness culture that prioritizes health, wellness, and quality of life. For us, independence is all about choice – in activities, dining, and healthcare services, all in a safe and healthy environment.
Learn more about how we provide safety, comfort, and fun for seniors at Trico LivingWell. Schedule a meeting with one of our Lifestyle Leasing Consultants today and help your parent discover the joys of living in a leading retirement community in Calgary.
