Talking to your aging parent about some topics can be difficult. Years of complicated family dynamics combined with your senior parent’s insecurities about getting older and needing help at home can make it tough to have positive conservations about things like home care assistance. But if your senior parent wants to stay in their own home as they get older, as most seniors do, at some point they are likely going to need help. The time to talk about home care assistance and what that means for your senior loved one is now. Use these tips from communication experts to make difficult conversations with your aging parent easier and more productive:
Start Now
If you need to have a tough conversation with a senior parent about a topic that could be potentially awkward or embarrassing for both of you it’s best to start easing into those topics by having short conversations about them now. Open a dialog by introducing the topic and suggesting that you start talking about home care assistance, personal care, and other potentially thorny topics. By starting a series of conversations you and your aging parent will have time to think about these things and if necessary cool off between conversations.
Get The Family Involved
If you’re worried that your parent might feel like you are picking on them or criticizing them or judging them for not being able to do things that they used to do get your family members involved in the conversation so that the pressure is not all on you to talk about these subjects. Siblings, aunts, uncles, and even close family friends can join the conversation and help take the edge off of potentially difficult talks.
Do Some Research
When you are presenting something like home care assistance to a senior parent it’s very helpful if you have done some research first. Anticipate that your senior loved one is probably going to have questions about what type of services are considered home care and what exactly a caregiver would do for them. When you have information to share it becomes easier for your senior parent to be open to what you’re saying because you are not coming across as accusatory or judgmental. Your senior parent will see that you’re trying to help. Giving them information helps the conversation stay on track instead of becoming a fight.
Compromise Is Key
Remember that your senior parent is an adult. They may need a little extra help around the house because of their age or their health but they are still adults who can make decisions for themselves. Don’t try to make all the decisions. Instead, make suggestions. And be willing to compromise when necessary to let your senior parent maintain their autonomy. For example, if you think that your senior loved one needs care around the clock but they think that home care assistance a couple of days each week is enough compromise and agree on care just a few days each week.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Lodi, CA, please contact the caring staff at Provident Care Home Care today at (209) 578-1210.
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