Talking With Your Adult Children About Retirement
So you’ve made the big decision to retire and now it’s time to break the news to your adult children. We all handle changes and transitions in different ways, so it’s important to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it to your children. These types of conversations can be difficult for many adults, especially when they include discussing after-life plans like health care and writing of wills.
At some point in retirement, many older adults rely on the help of their children to provide part-time or full-time care. Discussing these issues before they happen, and even before you decide to retire ensures that when the time comes, everyone is on the same page. Consider using some of these tips to navigate your retirement conversation.
Identify Roles
If your children want to be active parts of your care during your retirement years, it’s important to establish roles and needs as early as possible. If you have many children, in-state and out-of-state, it’s important to know who will be responsible and for what tasks. This could include taking care of finances, making health related decisions, providing care, or managing medications and groceries. This is a good time to discuss what kind of care you see yourself wanting in the future. It’s best to decide if you will hire outside help, or if one of your children are willing to play the part. These kinds of conversations need to be revisited, especially as time goes on. However, it’s wise to have a game plan in mind before the situation becomes immediate.
Write It to Remember It
It’s great to have conversations about retirement with your children, however it’s important to take notes so that everyone remembers the same things. Have one person take notes during your conversation and have the whole family read the document before agreeing to close the discussion. This way, if there are any inconsistencies or items that need clarification, they can be addressed at that time.
Know What You Want
Some adult children choose to be very involved in their parents’ retirement. However, it’s up to you as the parent to choose where you want to go and how you want to live the rest of your retirement years. Take some time before your discussion to think about what you want help with and what you would like to do on your own. Some parents like their children’s assistance when it comes to touring different retirement facilities, while some prefer help only when it comes to physically moving. Always remember that if you able to make sound, fully cognitive decisions, the choice should be yours.
Our Carespring skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky take pride in assisting happy families and seniors. When it comes to having hard discussions, what’s been best for you and your family?