How Can You Deal with a Senior Who is Resistant to Home Care?

Posted: 7/27/2017 1:59 PM by Interim HealthCare
In your role as a family caregiver, your parent’s safety, health, comfort, and happiness are your highest priorities. You want to know that they are getting everything that they need to keep them this way as they age in place, and to help them to live the highest quality of life possible throughout their later years. In trying to make sure that you can achieve this for your parent, you might have come to the conclusion that starting home care for them might be the right choice for them. This can help to fill any care gaps that might exist, encourage your parent to live a more active and fulfilling lifestyle, and ease your own personal caregiver stress. While you recognize the benefits that this type of care can offer your parent, you might find that your senior is resistant to it.

Use these tips to help you deal with a senior who is resistant to home care:
• Ask why. Resistance to care is not just one thing. This is a personal reaction and it is important that you look beyond your parent’s resistance to the reason behind it. Ask your loved one why they are resistant to the idea of care and give them the opportunity to explain it to you fully. This helps you to get their perspective so that you are better able to help them resolve the individual issues and address their concerns.

• Explain yourself. Do not overreact to their resistance. Instead, sit down with them and explain again why you think that this is the right choice for them. Use what you have learned about their concerns to highlight how you believe that a care arrangement could help them to live a better quality of life. For example, if they tell you that they do not like the idea of someone helping them take a shower, present to them that it is necessary for them to have help and it can either be a care provider or you, and that you believe that a care provider will help them in a professional, dignified, and respectful way that will be more comfortable for them.

• Invite them to be involved. The idea of having to accept care from someone can be very unsettling for a senior who is used to be independent and taking care of themselves, and even a family. They might feel as though this is taking away their independence and autonomy, and that you are already trying to control them. Help to ease this by inviting them to be involved in the entire process. This can include talking about the characteristics of the care provider, the schedule, the types of care services that they will provide, and even helping you to select the provider.

• Offer a trial run. Suggest to your senior that they have a trial run of a care arrangement. Hire a care provider for a short period and tell your parent that after that period, you will discuss the experience and decide what to do from there.

Starting home care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for your elderly loved one throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your aging loved one on a fully customized schedule designed to address their individual needs, challenges, and limitations while also ensuring that you are kept at the forefront of their care. Through a highly personalized set of services, this home care provider can help your parent to stay safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy throughout their later years while also encouraging them to pursue a lifestyle that is as active, independent, and fulfilling as possible. As a family caregiver, this care provider can also make a tremendous difference in your health and well-being. Knowing that your loved one has this care can ease your stress, help you to cope with guilt, and ensure that you have the time and energy to take care of yourself, your family, and the other obligations in your life.

More information about home care.