When it’s time to start talking about 24-hour home care services for aging adults, the situation can feel tricky for family caregivers. There are a lot of things to consider and seniors may have some strong feelings around accepting help, even if they know they need it. Approaching the conversation properly can help a lot.
Get Clear About the Need for Home Care
Before even starting the conversation about home care, it’s important to understand what type of care is necessary for the senior involved. That means looking at factors like their current health condition, existing mobility issues, cognitive abilities, and overall well-being. The more thoroughly family caregivers can identify challenges and limitations, the more solid the conversation can be.
Do Some Planning Before the Conversation
Some planning needs to happen before the conversation, too. Family caregivers may want to investigate what care options are available in the area and who needs to be involved in the conversation. That plan may go a long way toward making the conversation easier once it happens. Letting seniors know that the talk is coming can be incredibly helpful because they’re able to really think about how this can help them.
Consider the Tone Carefully and Express Empathy
Tone and empathy are incredibly important when everyone involved sits down to talk finally. Seniors may be resistant to having elder care providers around day and night, especially if they’re worried that they’ll lose some independence. Keeping the tone of the conversation calm and helpful can help to ensure that seniors are willing to listen. It can help to make it clear that the goal of bringing in caregivers is to improve quality of life and make it easier to age in place.
Prepare to Address Concerns and Resistance
Family caregivers should also make sure that they are prepared for their seniors to voice concerns and resistance. Acknowledging how seniors are feeling is really important, even if those feelings seem to not fit the situation. Keeping seniors involved in the decision-making process can also help them to feel more secure about maintaining their independence. Often seniors are most concerned about losing their ability to make choices about their own lives and that’s understandable. Keeping their perspective in mind helps family caregivers make compassionate decisions.
Re-evaluate Over Time
Even after seniors agree to have help from home care services around the clock, the types of care they need may change. Re-evaluating care plans and how well they are working for seniors ensures that seniors don’t feel as if they need to struggle in a situation that isn’t helping. Keeping the lines of communication open is a crucial part of continuing to make the best possible decisions for the seniors receiving care.
Talking about 24-hour home care with seniors means staying compassionate and open about what’s going on. Staying on topic and ensuring that seniors understand they are part of the decision-making process is important. Seniors may need help, but that doesn’t mean that they’re unable to participate in discussions about their needs and how to ensure those needs are met as thoroughly as possible.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable 24-hour home care in Braselton, GA, and the surrounding areas. Call (770) 965-4004 for more information.
We provide elder care in Braselton, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Oakwood, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Barrow County, Forsyth County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Jackson County, North Fulton County.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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