NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Dawn Veh with Mennonite Friendship Communities wants families that may have had difficult conversations about long-term care while home for the holidays to keep up the momentum and look at options.
"It is something that is very common after families get together during holidays," Veh said. "The kids often say, did you see this happen with Mom or Dad while you were there? The goal of kids, I hope all of them, is to make sure our parents are safe."
Mark Mains with Wesley Towers agrees that it is better to search sooner than later.
"You want to become familiar with what your options are, while you have options," Mains said. "The other side of that coin is, for the person in question, you want to make those decisions while you can, while you're not in crisis, while your children or family or whoever can help you. Then, the burden doesn't become so overbearing for the children to try to figure out what to do and when to do it and what to do with all the stuff. It's far better if everybody can participate in the conversation."
Don't assume that you know what the person to be cared for wants. They might surprise you, and there are enough options and different amenities in communities that it is important to ask.
"When you start, you'll start to see that good picture of what mom and dad, what grandma and grandpa might be looking for," said Nathan Spencer with Sunshine Meadows. "I think, also, it's about them. If they are able to move in when things are going well, they are able then to create that home for themselves, that new home, that forever place for them, until they do pass."
In fact, if you know you are declining, go ahead and make appointments with local homes to try to figure out where you want to be. Don't wait for the call from the kids, let them know you're being proactive about your search for a forever neighborhood.
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