Acknowledging that home care assistance is needed can be difficult for everyone involved. No one wants to see their loved one struggling to complete daily tasks or showing signs of decline in health. Nonetheless, we should remember that doing what is necessary for their safety and wellbeing should always be top priority.
Bringing up the subject of home care can be challenging, and it is a discussion that needs to be handled delicately. You may encounter some hurdles during the process, but we have provided some tips and advice on how to approach the situation so that both you and your loved one feel confident and comfortable about your decision.
Be Prepared
It is important that you do your research before bringing up the topic of home care with a loved one. You want to be able to explain to them what exactly home care is and answer any initial questions they may have during your conversation. Express to your loved one your reasons for thinking home care is needed. Put yourself in their shoes and anticipate the concerns they may have about considering home care.
Be Patient
Letting someone know that you think they could use some assistance can be a bit of a shock and overwhelming for them, so you want to take it slow and give them time to process. This transition is often times new for everyone including the family member who is doing the research, so it is important that these feelings are acknowledged. Explain to them the signs you have noticed that have prompted your concerns. You don’t want to come across as if you are belittling your loved one or being condescending, so use language that ensures they understand you are suggesting this out of love and concern for their wellbeing.
Have Open Dialog
You want to make sure you are talking with your loved one, not at them. Make it clear to them that they are being included in every step of the conversation and their opinions matter. You are not making choices for them or telling them what to do, you are simply here to provide support and guide them through the process. Listen to what they want and don’t want out of home care. Comments or statements such as, “I don’t want to feel watched, etc.,” should be validated. Let them know you respect their boundaries and anything they are uncomfortable with will not be forced upon them. Your loved one will be more receptive if they feel they are in control of the situation.
Ease Into It
Talk to your loved one about the different levels of home care:
While you may not want to go straight to 24/7 live-in care, starting with a trial of respite care for a few days and see how they feel about the experience. You want to make sure that the home care agency you have selected is a good fit. Emphasis should be placed on making sure that your loved one gets along with their caregiver and that they feel comfortable in their care. Show them that accepting home care does not mean losing their independence, home care is just assistance to help them maintain a happy and healthy life.
Have a Positive Outlook
Talk to your loved one about the benefits that home care can have on their life. Having assistance with their daily tasks may reduce stress levels for everyone and lead to more time for activities they enjoy. For instance, if your loved one enjoys sitting down and reading a good book or spending time in their garden, they will have much more time to do those things knowing they have assistance. Home care will also provide them with a social outlet. They may have a chance to go out and have a change of scenery, spend time away from their daily routine, and enjoy doing fun and exciting activities such as taking a vacation.
Discussing home care with your loved one can be tricky and we want to make sure you are prepared when the time comes. We want this to be a comfortable process for you and your loved one. For more information regarding the services Brightstar Care of City Center provides, visit our website or contact us today.
Bringing up the subject of home care can be challenging, and it is a discussion that needs to be handled delicately. You may encounter some hurdles during the process, but we have provided some tips and advice on how to approach the situation so that both you and your loved one feel confident and comfortable about your decision.
Be Prepared
It is important that you do your research before bringing up the topic of home care with a loved one. You want to be able to explain to them what exactly home care is and answer any initial questions they may have during your conversation. Express to your loved one your reasons for thinking home care is needed. Put yourself in their shoes and anticipate the concerns they may have about considering home care.
Be Patient
Letting someone know that you think they could use some assistance can be a bit of a shock and overwhelming for them, so you want to take it slow and give them time to process. This transition is often times new for everyone including the family member who is doing the research, so it is important that these feelings are acknowledged. Explain to them the signs you have noticed that have prompted your concerns. You don’t want to come across as if you are belittling your loved one or being condescending, so use language that ensures they understand you are suggesting this out of love and concern for their wellbeing.
Have Open Dialog
You want to make sure you are talking with your loved one, not at them. Make it clear to them that they are being included in every step of the conversation and their opinions matter. You are not making choices for them or telling them what to do, you are simply here to provide support and guide them through the process. Listen to what they want and don’t want out of home care. Comments or statements such as, “I don’t want to feel watched, etc.,” should be validated. Let them know you respect their boundaries and anything they are uncomfortable with will not be forced upon them. Your loved one will be more receptive if they feel they are in control of the situation.
Ease Into It
Talk to your loved one about the different levels of home care:
- Personal Care: assistance with feeding, dressing, daily hygiene, administering medication, ambulation etc.
- Companion Care: can include housekeeping, running errands, transportation to appointments or simply engaging in enjoyable activities.
- Live-In Care: This may be required for more complex cases where your loved one exhibits symptoms of memory loss or has displayed inability to maintain their independence or follow their normal routine.
While you may not want to go straight to 24/7 live-in care, starting with a trial of respite care for a few days and see how they feel about the experience. You want to make sure that the home care agency you have selected is a good fit. Emphasis should be placed on making sure that your loved one gets along with their caregiver and that they feel comfortable in their care. Show them that accepting home care does not mean losing their independence, home care is just assistance to help them maintain a happy and healthy life.
Have a Positive Outlook
Talk to your loved one about the benefits that home care can have on their life. Having assistance with their daily tasks may reduce stress levels for everyone and lead to more time for activities they enjoy. For instance, if your loved one enjoys sitting down and reading a good book or spending time in their garden, they will have much more time to do those things knowing they have assistance. Home care will also provide them with a social outlet. They may have a chance to go out and have a change of scenery, spend time away from their daily routine, and enjoy doing fun and exciting activities such as taking a vacation.
Discussing home care with your loved one can be tricky and we want to make sure you are prepared when the time comes. We want this to be a comfortable process for you and your loved one. For more information regarding the services Brightstar Care of City Center provides, visit our website or contact us today.