How Do I Speak To My Loved One About Homecare?
It can be difficult to accept that your loved one requires in-home care to assist them with their daily activities but it can also be even harder to introduce them to the concept of hiring a professional caregiver. This decision is likely to be met with some pushback from your relatives and patience and sensitivity are required while approaching the subject.
Here is some advice for when you are discussing homecare solutions with your loved one.
Time and Place
It's crucial to introduce the matter with sensitivity and at the appropriate time and place because even though you've seen your parents are experiencing difficulties with day-to-day living doesn't mean they've seen it as well. If you have a big family, it might be beneficial to have all members of the family around before starting the conversation and most importantly, you should ensure that everyone is aware of the situation and that each member can voice their point of view on the matter. Elderly people can especially feel vulnerable and it is very important that they know they can also voice their opinions without fear of being criticised and argued with. Take the time to reassure them that you are looking out for their best interests and that you will not make any decisions without their agreement.
Explore Every Option
The majority of elderly people assume that if they are unable to manage the daily activities in their own homes , moving into residential care is their only option, therefore you should reassure them that this is not the true. Provide your loved one with information about their care avenues, and give them plenty of time to assess all of their options in order to determine the best choice for their needs and wishes.
There are a range of options out there that might suit them such as housing and retirements facilities. There are also options that provide very little change in the lifestyle of your loved one and that is visiting care (hourly drop-in) and a newly popular option for families across Ireland, live-in care (this is where a dedicated caregiver comes into your loved one's home and provides a variety of elderly care services, from general companionship to more complex dementia care)
Discuss the Positives
Start off with the positives first and foremost. You want in-home care to be a desirable option for your relatives and no better way to start than to list some of the benefits. For example here are some of the most important benefits:
Allows you to stay in your home instead of going to a nursing home or an assisted living facility
In-home care is less costly and more affordable
1:1 personalised care
If you would like to see more benefits of homecare, please click here.
Keyword: Independence
They keyword when discussing homecare is independence. Many seniors perceive homecare as a threat to their independence. Acknowledging their concerns and then reassuring them will help you. You can explain to your relatives about how they will still be maintaining their independence from the comfort of their home. Using some series of events from the past might help in providing them with a visual to support this. Have they had any accidents, forgot to take their medication or had a few falls at home? You can highlight the fact that with a caregiver there this would prevent many accidents/falls and that the caregiver would be able to remind them of their medication or any appointments that they have.
Couple Benefits
If you have parents that are still living together, recommend that their partner can benefit from in-home care. Even though the care is helpful to both parents, they may be more inclined to accept it for the sake of their loved one. Focus on topics or activities that are important to them if they live alone. Where do you think a caregiver could add positively to their lifestyle? For example, driving them to events or running errands when they are occupied with other things. There are also many cases where one partner in the relationship is more capable than the other and they end up being the main caregiver. This of course can be quite a difficult job but with in-home care they can be given support by a professional caregiver who can provide them with breaks to recharge each day.
Include Them
Elderly relatives and their views must be at the forefront of the decision-making process. Allow them to listen in on conversations and engage in discussions about the best type of care for them. If possible, try and involve them during the interview process and encourage them to give their feedback too. It will be an easier transition for them when they know that they got to make the executive decision on the type of care they receive and the person delivering it.
If you would like to discuss homecare options with a member of our team, please get in touch today.
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