5 Tips for Speaking with Your Senior Loved One About Home Care

Caring for the person who raised you is a role reversal nobody is ever quite prepared for. Whether it’s because of painful chronic health conditions or dementia, it can be heartbreaking to watch your elderly parents lose their independence and become reliant on you.

With 77% of older adults wanting to age in place at home, moving your parents into a senior living facility might be out of the question. However, ensuring your loved one gets the help and support they need and deserve is essential.

In-home caregiving services provide a solution. But how can you gently broach the subject without upsetting your parents?

Use these five tips to successfully talk to your loved one about home care services.

1. Start Now

While it’s a difficult conversation to have, you shouldn’t put off discussing in-home caregiving services with your parents. The longer you wait, the higher your loved one’s accident risks can become.

If your parents are having challenges with cooking, housekeeping, or personal hygiene, it’s crucial to have the conversation about home care sooner rather than later.

2. Discuss the Advantages

Position in-home care services in a positive light. Discuss the advantages with your loved one, like how these services allow them to stay in their home for longer while remaining safe and comfortable.

This will set your parent’s minds at ease and make them feel confident about their decision.

3. Make It a Family Affair

Hiring a Tulsa in-home caregiver shouldn’t be a choice left solely to you or your aging parent. To make the best decision possible, your entire family should be involved, including your siblings and your loved one’s spouse.

Their family’s support will make your loved one feel more assured.

4. Focus on Their Independence

Losing their independence is one of the top fears of many older adults. Hiring an in-home caregiver might make them feel ashamed, embarrassed, or anxious.

When discussing home care with your loved one, focus on how these services will help them maintain their independence. It’s helpful to paint a visual picture for your parents. Have they suffered a fall? Is their arthritis preventing them from cooking healthy meals? Are they having trouble keeping their house in order?

List the reasons why an in-home caregiver will improve your loved one’s quality of life while ensuring their independence.

5. Compromise Is Key

You should never try and force decisions on your loved one. This can make them more averse to hiring an in-home caregiver. Instead, allow your parents to voice their concerns. Listen closely to better understand the reasons for their objections.

Reaching a compromise might be the best way to persuade your loved one to hire a caregiver. If they’re embarrassed by the idea of a caregiver assisting them with showers, suggest starting with light housekeeping and meal preparation services.

Award-Winning Home Care Solutions for Tulsa Seniors

After the decision is made to hire an in-home caregiver, it’s important to partner with a quality provider. Luckily, Visiting Angels offers reliable, compassionate, and award-winning home care solutions to Tulsa, OK, residents.

We’ll create a custom care plan for your loved one that fits their needs, health conditions, and preferences.

To learn more, contact us today by calling 918-609-5600.