Older adults often have strong views regarding the prospect of receiving professional in-home care. While you can’t help but admire your parent’s perseverance in the face of challenges, you also need to make the right decisions for his or her well-being. When your loved one resists care, use the following tips to help him or her view professional assistance as a positive choice.
Try to See It from Your Parent’s Perspective
Your loved one may be worried about how he or she will feel with someone else helping out around the house. For example, your loved one may be concerned about feeling useless if he or she cannot keep up with housekeeping. Once you see things from your parent’s perspective, you can develop tactics to ease his or her fears. For instance, you could help your loved one see that receiving housekeeping assistance can free up more time to volunteer or make things for charity.
The type of at-home care seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time.
Let Your Parent Call the Shots
Your disagreement about professional care could represent a power struggle. No one likes to feel as if he or she is being told what to do, and your loved one’s resistance may be due to a fear of losing control. If your parent relies on excuses such as claiming he or she isn’t a child when you suggest companionship care, fulfill his or her need to feel in control by providing choices. For instance, you could ask your parent to make a list of the desired traits he or she prefers in a caregiver. Alternatively, you can ask how many days a week your loved one would like someone to drop by for a visit.
Give Your Parent a Break
If your loved one is still doing relatively fine at home, you might consider taking a break from the subject of caregiving for a while. Taking a break may allow negative feelings to fade away before you bring up the topic again. Keep in mind the subject shouldn’t be avoided for long, especially if your loved one has decreasing abilities that put him or her at risk of injuries. Give your parent a day or two to think things over, and you may find your loved one concluding that having help around the house is a good thing.
If your senior loved one needs help managing an illness or assistance with daily tasks, make sure you choose a top-rated provider of senior home care. Arlington Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life in the golden years.
Present It as a Gift
Your loved one may be worried about receiving assistance with personal tasks such as bathing, and he or she may be right about not needing this level of care just yet. However, seniors often need help with everyday tasks, such as doing laundry or cooking dinner. In fact, many people give housekeeping services to their loved ones as luxury gifts to celebrate special occasions. Consider arranging for a professional caregiver to help your loved one with housekeeping or meal prep, and present it as a gift for a special occasion. Offering in-home care as a gift may dispel the stigma your loved one associates with home care for seniors.
Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional elder care Arlington, VA, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated in-home caregiver. Assisting Hands Home Care will work with you to customize a care plan that’s just right for your loved one’s needs. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (703) 988-1800 to learn more about our customized care plans.
