What statement actually got through to your stubborn parent with failing health?
My sibling and I have made many attempts to have "the talk" with our elderly mother about her living situation and care plan, but she basically refused. It came to a head last year when she has her first (known to us) fall, TBI and 2 craniotomies. She fell again this weekend (9 months later), but luckily she is ok this time. However, my sister and I have decided we cannot continue to support the idea of her living alone in an unsafe situation or her lies about her health (this has been a pattern, and she even told my sibling not to tell me about this recent fall). I know we should approach this with how it is hurting us, putting us in a cycle of crisis, and causing unnecessary stress. We both understand her desire for autonomy which is why we NEED to have this conversation before the next crisis. We are done babying her and putting it off, and we are willing to walk away from her if she doesn't want to talk because we refuse to watch her destroy herself and my siblings lives (my sibling is local I am not. She has chronic illnesses exacerbated by stress). We already have a structure in mind for how we would like to steer the conversation. I would love to know what you said to your stubborn parent clinging to independence that actually got through to them. Something that tore their heart open and whipped them back into reality. I know that may not be a realistic expectation, but I want to be thoughtful about what we say to her.