Part of the reason that you took on the responsibility to be your senior’s family caregiver was to give her the help that she needs, when she needs it most. When she tells you that she doesn’t want help, from you or from others, or when she goes out of her way to avoid help, that can be incredibly upsetting. Understanding what keeps her from taking the help that you want to make sure that she has can help you to get through to her.
Fear of What That Means for Her
There’s a lot of fear wrapped up in growing older, especially if your elderly family member has health issues that are growing worse. Accepting help might mean that she’s acknowledging that things are different and are likely to change even more. This can be really difficult to accept.
Taking Care of Herself Has Been a Habit
Lots of times older adults are just used to taking care of themselves, without help and input from anyone else. Having help can feel awkward and even maybe not necessary. Your senior may tell you that she feels nervous about even telling someone else what she needs. It can take a while for your elderly family member to come to terms with having even a little bit of extra help.
She Doesn’t Want to Lose Anything
One big concern might be what your senior is afraid that she might lose. Privacy and independence are two of the most common issues for seniors. Working with senior care providers does not remove your senior’s independence, and they’re extremely committed to protecting your senior’s dignity and her privacy.
She May Truly Believe She Doesn’t Need Help
Sometimes seniors truly believe that they don’t need help from anyone, even when it’s obvious that they do. Your elderly family member may be stuck in a belief that keeps her from having the quality of life that she deserves. Having even a small amount of assistance can make such a huge difference for her but convincing her of that fact can be difficult.
In the end, you and your senior may need to negotiate about what helps means and what the limitations will be on senior care providers. Given a little bit of time, your elderly family member may completely change her mind. This is especially true once she starts reaping the benefits of having exactly the help that she needs, exactly when she needs it.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering senior care in Turlock, CA, please contact the caring staff at Provident Care Home Care today at (209) 578-1210.
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