My mother refuses to even discuss leaving her house. What do I do?
You wait — actively. Pushing a parent who isn't ready makes everything slower, because the harder you pull, the harder she'll hold on. The house isn't just a building to her. It's the proof she's still in charge of her own life.
What active waiting looks like: stay close, fix small things without commentary, and let information arrive without pressure — a friend who made the move and likes it, a visit to a community framed as someone else's errand. Sometimes the voice that lands isn't yours; a doctor, a pastor, or an old friend can say what a daughter can't. And know that something will eventually move the conversation — a fall, a hard winter, a bad night. Your job now is making sure that when it does, she knows who's safe to talk to.
You're not failing her by not forcing it. If it would help to talk through your read of the situation, call me. No agenda.
I wrote this answer, and I stand behind it. I'm Chris Deutsch, a Minneapolis Realtor (MN #20382264). Twenty-five years of walking these neighborhoods, checking basements, and sitting across kitchen tables from people making exactly this call. I re-check every answer and date it — this one was last verified .
If your situation is more specific than the market, that's the one worth talking through. Email me at chris@lakesarearealty.com.