3 Things To Discuss With Your Kids As You Start Aging
While everyone hopes to age gracefully, many people reach a certain point where they simply can’t take care of themselves anymore with the abilities they have left at their age. Because of this, it’s important that you and your family or loved one figure out how you’ll handle certain issues related to your care before they actually become problems.
To help you start these conversations with your family, here are three things you should discuss with your kids as you start aging.
Your Sensitivity To Criticism
As you get older, you may begin to notice your family members or friends checking up on you more. And while they are likely doing this out of love, many people start to feel like they’re being constantly critiqued for how well they can take care of themselves well before this starts to be a real issue.
If you’re feeling like this, Claire Berman, a contributor to The Atlantic, advises that you speak with your kids about how you’re feeling sensitive to their criticism as they try to assess where you are mentally. While it’s helpful for them to stay on top of things and ensure that you’re taking proper care of yourself, you might want to ask them to not be so obvious about it or to try to be more loving rather than analytical.
How To Care For You If Your Health Fails
If and when your health starts to fail you, it’s going to be helpful for your children to know exactly how you wish to be cared for.
According to Caitlin Burm, a contributor to APlaceForMom.com, you should lay out for your family what your decisions are about your health and your medical preferences. Additionally, if there’s one particular person you’d like to charge with making decisions for you if the time comes that you’re no longer able to make them for yourself, it’s good for your family to know this as well.
Share Your Wishes With Multiple People
While it’s good to have these kinds of decisions with your children or other close family members, those aren’t the only people that you should share your wishes with.
To ensure that what desires are followed regardless of how difficult your kids may find it in the future, Debra Gordon, a contributor to BrainAndLife.org, suggests that you share your decisions with your doctor and your lawyer, as well as other close friends or family members, so that there’s more people who know what you wish for your end-of-life care and can ensure that you get things done according to your desires.
If the time has come for you to speak with your children about what you’d like to happen as you age, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you have these sometimes challenging conversations.