Your parent spent many years making sure you had what you needed to stay healthy and safe. Now, you may want to return the favor by arranging for his or her care. However, in-home care is one area where your parent may have strong opinions, and you may be surprised by his or her reluctance to receive help around the house. As you talk to your parent, use the following tips to help him or her see the benefits of accepting assistance from others.
Understand the True Reasons for the Resistance
Seniors reject offers to help for a variety of reasons. For example, your loved one may resist care out of fear of having his or her privacy invaded. Alternatively, your loved one may feel like accepting assistance is the beginning of losing independence. Spend some time thinking about your parent’s personality and lifestyle to find out why he or she does not want care. Then, approach your conversations using strategies that ease the emotions that contribute to the resistance.
Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional home care Mississauga seniors can trust and rely on.
Focus on Accident Prevention
Some people reject care because they take pride in being independent in their golden years. If your loved one values his or her independence, talk about how a simple fall could cause injuries that reduce the ability to live independently. After thinking about the possibilities of what could happen if he or she gets hurt while alone, your parent may accept help with difficult tasks that require standing on ladders or walking on slippery floors.
Offer Specific Options
Your loved one may associate care with negative things such as having to move out of his or her home. However, seniors today can have caregivers come to their homes so they have minimal disruptions in their lives. Present your loved one with specific options such as having someone stop by to prepare meals or clean the bathroom. Once your loved one understands no one is trying to change his or her lifestyle completely, he or she may begin to see home care in a positive light.
A caregiver can help your elderly loved one manage his or her health in a variety of ways. If your loved one needs encouragement to exercise more often, eat healthier foods, or socialize on a regular basis, an in-home caregiver from Home Care Assistance Mississauga can address these and many other health-related concerns.
Talk About the Emotional Benefits
If your loved one is truly resistant, consider tapping into his or her emotional side as a parent. Let your parent know how worried you are about his or her wellbeing, and mention you only want to return the kindness he or she has shown you since you were a child. Presenting in-home care as a way to alleviate your concerns may encourage your parent to realize you are coming from a place of true compassion.
Get Others Involved
While you want your parent to accept care, you also want to avoid damaging your relationship. At times, you may need to back off, but this doesn’t mean the conversation has to be over. Speak with your loved one’s other family members, physicians, and friends to see if someone else might also mention the importance of receiving care. Once your loved one sees other people agree, he or she may let you set up the first home care visit.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Mississauga seniors can depend on. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your aging loved one, give us a call at 905-337-1200 today.