Senior care is a big issue. If you are thinking about, or need to care for aging parents, there are a few important aspects to consider. Caregivers of aging parents are often torn between lending a helping hand and an elderly loved one’s need to maintain independence, control, and autonomy.

Here are six practical ways to plan for senior care with your aging parents.

1. Start the Discussion Early and Keep Communication Ongoing

It is easy to make assumptions about the type of senior care your aging parents might want, or even accept. By starting the discussion early and making it ongoing will clear the air. Communication will also give you a good idea of their wishes.

2. Respect Your Elderly Loved One’s Autonomy

This is easy to forget. Elderly loved ones want you to respect his or her autonomy. Instead of making demands, try phrasing things from a place of concern. For instance, tell our aging parents that you are worried about them and back it up with supporting evidence.

3. Get the Facts About Senior Care

Whether you plan to provide senior care yourself, or choose a senior living community, get the facts. For example, the price of a senior care community could be in upwards of $80,000 per year. There are also costs if you plan to do it yourself, such as extra food to buy, renovations to the home for safety, and more.

4. Keep Things Slow and Simple

There is a strong possibility that your aging parents will push back when the topic of senior care comes up. You can start slow and keep it simple. For instance, have a caregiver come over once a week. Senior care should be a slow adjustment that takes time.

5. Get Expert Insight

There are plenty of experts on the subject of senior care. They are community social workers, law attorneys that specialize in the elderly, and senior care advisors. Don’t be afraid to lean on support channels for expert insight.

6. Be Sure You Are Caring For Yourself Too

Many caregivers of aging parents will start senior care at full-speed. This can lead to caregiver burnout. You need to take care of yourself first, so you can be ready and enthusiastic for your aging parents care.

Caregivers Need To Be Proactive

The most important aspect about senior care is to be proactive. This will allow you to put a great senior care plan in place for your aging parents. This will help keep your loved ones part of the conversation and decision process. They will also feel good that you are respecting their autonomy and independence. After all, they earned it.