Tips on Helping Stubborn Elderly Parents
It is difficult for many seniors to accept assistance in their golden years. Aging adults often feel like their independence is slipping away, and they don’t want to be treated like children. As a family caregiver, you need to make your loved one feel comfortable about getting help with daily activities. Here are some of the strategies caregivers can use to ease the transition for a senior loved one who is stubborn about receiving assistance.
Have the Conversation Early
Do not force your loved one to accept help. Instead, ease the situation by discussing assistance long before a health crisis occurs. Early conversations allow you to ask your loved one how he or she feels about receiving help. For instance, you can ask what type of care he or she would like to receive. Allowing your loved one to state his or her wishes and make decisions ahead of time could make the process go smoother. When considering non-medical senior care, Fairfield, CT, families should make sure their senior loved ones have the resources they need to maintain their independence and remain healthy. Trusted in-home care professionals can assist seniors with daily tasks like cooking, bathing, and exercise, and they can also encourage them to focus on healthier lifestyle habits.
Be Patient
Your loved one has lived the majority of his or her life without receiving help. In fact, he or she has cared for you and perhaps other children at some point in the past. As a result, it may take a little while to accept help from in-home caregivers, family members, and medical professionals. Regardless of how frustrated you get with your loved one, do not be impatient because it could lead to a tense and stressful environment. If your loved one has difficulty bathing and dressing or uses repetitive words and sentences, be patient. Having patience could cause a stubborn parent to be more relaxed and open to receiving care.
Offer More Options
Give your loved one the opportunity to choose his or her schedule. Your loved one can tell you which days he or she wants to clean the home and prepare meals, and when he or she will need assistance running errands and visiting with medical providers. Make sure to include your loved one in the process of selecting a caregiver so he or she can choose someone he or she is comfortable with. Your loved one can ask questions when interviewing the caregiver or choosing the home care agency.Although it may be challenging to find a reliable, highly rated home care agency, Fairfield, CT, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
Point Out Strengths
Seniors need to be praised and valued. Hearing how great they are at something could make them less reluctant to receive assistance in areas they have difficulty with. It is a good idea to allow your loved one to do as much as possible independently, as long as his or her health and safety are not put in jeopardy. When your loved one does something good, make sure to compliment him or her. Offering compliments may boost his or her mood and self-esteem. When seniors feel like they have accomplished something on their own, they are less likely to fuss over receiving assistance with more challenging tasks.Families looking to hire a Fairfield elderly caregiver can reach out to Home Care Assistance. All of our hourly and live-in caregivers receive extensive ongoing training to ensure they provide the high-quality in-home care seniors need and deserve. To learn about our premier in-home care plans, give us a call at 203-439-5780 today.