Diane* walked in to her mother’s house and saw that her mother, Elaine,* had several large bruises. Elaine explained she had fallen getting out of the bathtub. Diane immediately got upset and told her mother that she needed grab bars installed in her bathroom and really should have someone there to assist her when she showered. Elaine replied that she had been fine living alone for most of her adult life and she didn’t need any help now. Diane brought up other times her mother had fallen or slipped, and other ways she thought her mother needed help to be safe in her home. By the end of the discussion, both Diane and Elaine were very agitated and nothing had been resolved.

To help your parent stay positive and looking forward to the next chapter of their retirement, here are some tips on how you can make their move to a retirement community as streamlined and stress-free as possible.