Handling disagreements with a senior parent is never easy. While you respect your parent’s desire to remain independent, you also know having help around the house prevents injuries that could affect the ability to continue to age in place. Fortunately, you don’t have to engage in an argument with your loved one, since the following tips can help you overcome his or her resistance to care with compassion.
1. Focus on the Positive
Try to avoid bringing up all the things your parent is having difficulty with. For instance, your parent may not want to hear about how he or she fails to take medication appropriately. Instead, talk about how having a caregiver take over the task allows your parent to focus on the things he or she really enjoys, such as a favorite hobby. With professional assistance, your loved one can get engaged in sewing or woodworking, and someone will be right there to remind him or her to take medication.
Home care Phoenix agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
2. Suggest a Specific Service
Your parent may have serious fears about what could happen if someone takes over all of his or her daily responsibilities. To change your loved one’s perspective, suggest receiving help with one specific task. For instance, your parent might agree to having someone stop by to sweep and mop the floors if he or she detests housekeeping chores.
Every senior has different needs when aging in place. Some simply need occasional assistance with household chores, while others may be managing serious illnesses and require more extensive senior care. Phoenix seniors can count on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide the in-home care they need and deserve.
3. Recruit Help from Others
Your loved one may have friends and other family members who have positive experiences with home care to share. Once your loved one hears about how these people enjoy having a companion stop by to handle important tasks, he or she may be more receptive to receiving care. Talk to your siblings or other family members to see if they can also keep the conversation about care going so it’s not always you who is bringing it up. If your parent sees that most of his or her social group agrees about this subject, he or she might be more willing to listen.
4. Express Your Concern
It’s possible your loved one simply doesn’t realize how much this situation is bothering you. When your parent is in a good mood, try explaining that you worry about what could happen when he or she is alone. Alternatively, you could tell your loved one about how you’re having difficulty taking care of two households if you’re the family caregiver.
5. Offer a Trial Run
It’s possible your loved one is resistant to care because he or she is afraid of the changes that occur when someone begins to visit the home. Suggest arranging for a trial run so your loved one can get to know a potential caregiver before committing to long-term care. Make sure to stick by your parent’s side until he or she is comfortable enough to spend time with the new companion alone.
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 homecare Phoenix seniors can trust and rely on. Reach out to us at Assisting Hands Home Care if you need compassionate professional care for your loved one. Call us today at 602-847-6549 to learn about the high quality of our in-home services.
