How do you tell your parent you had to sell their house. Also that they're in a nursing home and can't go home.

You do not have to tell your parent you sold the house if it would upset or confuse them. This is when little white lies to therapeutic fibs become handy.

As far as living in the nursing home goes, you tell them the doctor said it was best for now.

mgrannemann, if your parent is asking to "go home", please note if they have dementia, "going home" means back to their childhood home.

You don’t say here or on your profile, but if your mother has dementia, you will not be able to explain the sale of the house and telling her she “can’t go home” will just make her upset and very sad. And, the next time you visit, if she does have dementia, you will have to explain it again, causing her more upset and sadness. And again. And again. It’s better to use what we call the “therapeutic fib “ and tell her you’re having the house cleaned, painted, fixed-up, whatever, and when her doctor says she can go home, you will take her to see it.