Tread Lightly Before Discussing This Topic With Your Older Parents

Nathan Bilow via Getty Images If you’re the adult child in this scenario, it may be important to ask yourself: “Why do you want your parents to retire?” Americans are working until later and later in life. “It may help shift the focus of worry to a more productive problem-solving perspective.” “Keep the focus on serving them and partnering with them, not saving them.” - Celia Roberts Hughes, a financial therapist based in Nashville, Tennessee Still, your parent’s retirement ultimately isn’t your decision to make, which means the goal should be to listen, not persuade, Bernard said. “It’s generally not appropriate because, one, it should be the older adult’s decision, and two, the idea that at a certain point you’re supposed to stop working is inherently a bit ageist,” said Dr. Leslie Kernisan, a geriatrician and the author of “When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatrician’s Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, and More.” Kernisan pointed out that some research suggests it’s actually healthy and stabilizing for older adults to continue work if they still can. They would love for the employee to decide to retire because they don’t like the idea of having to point out the mistakes that the older woman is making.” MoMo Productions via Getty Images “Boomers were raised in a social and cultural context where they were expected to commit to their career for the duration of their professional lifespan,” said Erin Mason, a psychotherapist in Los Angeles who specializes in life transitions. They are relevant.” Your parent’s work might connect them not only to their sense of purpose, but also to other people ― and “supportive social relationships are integral to healthy aging,” Mason said.