Looking out for the people who live next door to you is just part of being a good neighbor. Over time, you get to know your neighbor's habits, and you may even enjoy having the chance to chat with the senior living next to you from time to time. Unfortunately, older adults sometimes experience declines in their health, and neighbors are often the first ones to notice subtle signs such as difficult pulling their car out of the driveway or an unsteady gait. While no one wants to feel like a nosy neighbor, it's important to share your concerns and offer assistance. You can use these tips to bring up the topic with your neighbor in a compassionate way that lets them know you care.

Choose a Good Time

As with any potentially difficult conversation, you need to choose the right time to bring up the subject. If you normally catch your neighbor while you are both outside, then ask them when a good time would be to sit down and talk. Then, invite them over for lunch or a cup of coffee to establish a calming environment.

Use Open-Ended Questions

Seniors are often fiercely protective of their independence, which means that you want to avoid making them feel put on the spot. Bring up the topic by asking open-ended questions such as how are they doing. In some cases, you may find that they mention a health problem that allows you to easily steer the conversation to options for help such as elder care services in your community. If not, you can still use your questions to get a better understanding of your neighbor's thoughts about having help at home.

Follow Up On the Conversation

Most decisions about a senior's care options are not decided during the first conversation. After all, it sometimes takes time for a senior to decide that they do need assistance, or your neighbor may want to talk things over with their family. However, you want to make sure that the issue does not go unaddressed. Give your neighbor a week or two to mull things over. Then, follow up by asking them if they've thought about the idea of in-home elder care any further. If they are interested, then offer to help them find a caregiver that fits their needs.

Neighbors help each other, and you may not think twice about doing things such as helping your neighbor bring in their groceries. Yet, there often comes a time when a senior needs more assistance than just what the people living next door can provide. By being willing to step out and offer suggestions for assistance, you can help your senior neighbor enjoy a better quality of life.

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