If your adult child has a disability that allows them to primarily take care of themselves and live independently, but they still need some support, then a supported living community may be the ideal solution. A supported living community allows them to live as independently as possible while still addressing their unique needs. Here are three things you need to know about moving your adult child into a supported living community.

Communication With Your Child Is Key

Before moving your child into a supported living community, make sure you communicate clearly with everyone involved.

Sit down your adult child and let them know that you think they would thrive in a supported living community. Explain to them how the community is set up and what assistance they would have. Make sure they still know you support and love them. If possible, let your child know specifically how you will still be involved in their day to day care.

Answer all questions your child has truthfully. Try to involve them in the process. Let them tour the living communities that you are interested in placing them in. Allow them to talk with the staff. Take their feedback into consideration when choosing a living community for them. 

Communicate Clearly With The Staff

Once you select a living community for your adult child, make sure you communicate clearly with the staff. Your child's transition will go much smoother if the staff knows your child's strengths and weaknesses, and learns from you how to work with your child. You are an expert on what your child needs; make sure you share this expertise with your child's new caregivers and staff.

If your child needs more support in the social area, make sure you build a risk management plan with the staff for your child that will allow your child to slowly acclimate to their new surroundings.

Be Prepared For A Transition

Finally, make sure you are prepared for the transition. It may be hard to let your child leave your home and go somewhere else. Allow your adult child to embrace this opportunity. Be prepared for them to go through both a honeymoon phase where they love their new surroundings and a phase where, much like a teenager, they test the boundaries of their new living situations. Don't pull your child from their new environment; allow them to go through all the adjustment phases and find their own space in their new community.

If your adult child is ready to go out on their own, but needs some support, work with them to find a supported living community that will address their needs. Keep open lines of communication between your child and the staff at their new living community to make the transition go more smoothly. 

You also need to keep in mind that as they get older, they may need to or want later move to an elderly assistance community like Kind-er Care, Inc.