As time goes by, senior adults will undergo many changes in physical capabilities and in mental awareness. The levels of care needed will change. The burden of care will increase. These changes are very stressful for both the senior parent and for the siblings who are trying to do the best for their parents. This will require a willingness to accept changes and the wisdom to know the right timing.
Usually the level of care increases and will become more complicated. Senior independent living becomes more problematic. Mental, emotional, and physical health require more attention. Independent living skills diminish. Adjustments to caregiving become a constant and create pressure and stress on all involved.
Seniors may not actually be aware themselves that adjustments are needed. Or they may not admit to the need. The goal is to stay independent long as possible. This desire should not be overlooked in making choices for senior living alternatives.
For aging seniors, accepting changes in lifestyle is difficult. Fear of the unknown or the desire to keep the familiar make the transition to assisted living more daunting. This can create hard feelings and shut down communication. Resistance to change can be stressful for all involved.
When change is required, the following questions become a concern:
Can I still take care of my physical needs?
Who will help me with my needs?
Where will I live?
How can I relieve my pain?
Why am I alone?
Will I lose my home? My independence?
These are typical questions that life change brings. This change is inevitable and courage will be necessary. There is a close relationship between the change quotes below and the courage quotes that follow. Courage is often essential for handling change.
The issues ahead: Change quotes
If you want to make enemies, try to change something.
Woodrow T. Wilson
Change is hard because people overestimate the value of what they have—and underestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.
James Belasco and Ralph Stayer
People don’t resist change. They resist being changed!
Peter Senge
Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transience, we suffer.
Shunryu Suzuki
It’s the most unhappy people who most fear change.
Mignon McLaughlin
There is hope: Courage quotes
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Rosevelt
If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.
Martin Luther King
Courage is the power to let go of the familiar. ~Raymond Lindquist
No one has yet computed how many imaginary triumphs are silently celebrated by people each year to keep up their courage. ~Henry S. Haskins
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
--Anais Nin
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
--Dorothy Bernard
Different points of view
Can the needs of the aging parent be balanced against the needs of the siblings? Will the parents listen to their children? Will the children hear their parents? Will the siblings be supportive of each other?
Adjustments and sacrifice will need to come from both sides. There may be things that the aging parents can do to make it easier on their children. Accepting change is one. Siblings, on the other hand, can do everything they can to sustain independent living as long as possible. However, adult children and their families need to continue in a reason lifestyle. To allow them to do this is a major blessing from the elder parent.
There can be great encouragement to seniors in contemplating
change quotes.
and taking the right actions.
