When a senior begins to show signs that he or she needs home care assistance, it is usually the adult child who notices the signs of need first. Unfortunately, the parent does not always agree that help is needed in the home. The adult child may feel overwhelmed as he or she begins to realize that persuasion and reasoning is not working. Additionally, the adult child may wonder how the parent can be convinced to accept in home care.
Why Home Care Assistance is Needed
The primary reason why home care often becomes a source of debate is because there is a difference in each generation’s perspective. The child may begin to notice that the parent is:
- Walking with an unsteady gait
- Forgetting to take medications
- Unable to handle personal care or household tasks
Naturally, this leads the adult child to believe that there is an issue with their parent’s safety. This is why some family members see home care assistance as the best solution. It allows seniors the ability to remain in the home comfortably.
However, the parent’s perspective is often quite different from their child’s. A senior may view the home care as an invasion of privacy. The senior may also feel he or she will have a loss of dignity if he or she decides to accept the care. Adult children can use the following suggestions to try to convince their elderly loved one of the benefits of accepting home care.
Avoid Arguments That Lead To More Resistance
Avoid locking horns with your parents about their current state of health or whether they need assistance or not. These types of arguments typically do not have a positive resolution. And they can even create further anger and resistance in your parent.
Focus On the Advantages of Having Home Care Assistance with Household Chores
You can persuade your parent to agree to assistance in the home if you can convince him or her that the caregiver is there to help with household tasks. People of all ages enlist the help of housekeepers, and once the caregiver is ‘in the door’; the caregiver can begin to establish a relationship with the parent. The parent will become less resistant to receiving assistance with personal care.
Place Emphasis on Your Needs
Your parent may accept the assistance more easily if you say that the in home care is a favor for you. Tell the parent that you feel more comfortable if someone was in the home making sure all of the household tasks were completed.
Although your parent may be resistant to receiving home care assistance, you can make them more willing to receive the care if you use the previous suggestions to reinforce the idea.
Is your parent showing signs of impaired mobility or forgetfulness? Evergreen Private Care has dedicated and professional caregivers ready to provide assistance and companionship for your loved one. Contact Evergreen Private Care today to find out how they can help your loved one.