Supporting Your Parent's Next Move

Pick a calm moment, (ideally in person or on the phone, but not an email or text). The best way is often to start with a question: “Do you have a plan for what’s next?” It gives your parent room to think, and it keeps the decision in their hands.

It’s fair to share your side too. It’s honest to tell them you worry about them and can’t always be there. But be sure to listen, because what concerns them most will tell you where to pick up next time. Most families come back to this conversation more than once before the first visit.

Keep the decision in their hands. Here’s how

This change can feel like losing the life they built and love. They may worry about leaving friends behind, or that once they move, the decisions stop being theirs. Knowing that going in makes the process much easier. It also helps to focus on what they’d gain instead:

• New friends right down the hall
• Real choices about what and where to eat, including a say in the menu, without the hassle of cooking every meal.
• Rides to errands, appointments, and outings
• A team that notices when something’s off
• Rent that gets more predictable the longer they stay

Plenty of our residents felt the same way at first. But we’ve lost count of how many now say they wish they’d come sooner! 

If Mom is worried about losing her independence, this may be helpful

You’ve spent years worrying about them, and if they’re resistant, it can be hard to tell whether this move is for them or for you. Usually it’s both. When you find the right fit, your parent gains friends, choices, and support close by. You gain peace of mind and more good time together. So many families tell us their mom or dad seems like themselves again at Bellewood. And that’s a decision you can feel good about. 

At Bellewood, it starts with neighbors who quickly become friends. Resident ambassadors welcome new
comers from day one, and with all the classes, clubs, and outings we offer, it won’t take long to find her people.

Plus, many families choose Bellewood to bring a parent closer, so family stopping by after work becomes part of the week. When out-of-town friends visit, your mom can host them in our on-site guest apartments.

Read here about why connection matters so much as we age.

See all the fun ways Mom can fill her calendar at Bellewood.

Plenty. Rent includes one chef-prepared meal a day (with an option for more), and menus change weekly. Your dad can eat in our restaurant-style dining room, order room service or meals to-go, or cook in his own full kitchen.

And because Bellewood is family-owned, residents have a real say in what’s served. Big corporate communities often set menus months in advance from a central office. Our chef plans a week at a time, and residents help shape what’s on the menu. If Dad has a favorite dish, or a family recipe he loves, our kitchen would love to hear about it.

Learn more about the impact of aging on nutrition

Check out a sample Bellewood menu

However they like. Your parent can keep their car (with free valet parking) or leave it behind. Bellewood provides rides to shopping, medical appointments, and errands, plus group trips to concerts, theaters, and museums. Groceries, shopping, and Swedish Issaquah hospital are a few minutes Uber away too. So you’re no longer the only ride to every appointment.

Read about the extras included in rent at Bellewood

Our team notices when someone doesn’t show up for a meal or misses their usual class. Add the opt-in daily check-in, 24/7 staffing, and an in-house emergency response system, and someone is always paying attention.

Bellewood is independent living, so if your parent needs help with things like medication reminders or laundry, they can bring in personal care from a local partner or a provider they choose. 

Start with what staying home really costs. Even a paid-off house comes with taxes, repairs, groceries, and yard work. Bellewood’s monthly rent covers meals, utilities, free wifi, cable TV, housekeeping, transportation, and more.

We offer financial peace of mind too. Many residents move in expecting to be here for just a few years, then stay far longer because of the friendships and the full lives they build. With our LifeMinded Rewards Rent-Lock Program, rent increases shrink over time and lock for life at ten years. (Over 60% of our residents are currently benefitting from this program.)

Find out what staying home really costs (it’s more than money)

See how our Rent-Lock Program offers peace of mind

Absolutely. Come on your own first, then bring him back, as many times as he likes. Photos and floor plans only tell you so much. Walk in the door and you’ll feel the difference right away: friendly neighbors filling our common spaces, staff stopping to chat. When your dad visits, he’ll feel it too.

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