Senior Care: What To Do When Seniors Reject In-Home Care
If you are seeking senior care but your elderly parent is feeling some resistance, read on. It can be a complicated situation for everyone involved when needs must be met and there are disagreements on how you’re going to tackle them. Here are a few tips for you to consider as you approach the subject with the seniors in your life who may be rejecting in-home care.
Considering Senior Care
When we first enter the world, we’re under the care of someone else. It might be hard for your aging parent to consider needing this kind of care again. You want to make sure they’re safe, fed, and not at risk of injuring themselves. Meanwhile, they’re doing whatever they can to show themselves (and you) that they’re capable of living as they always have, even if they’re having trouble.
Your loved one likely has trouble acknowledging their growing weakness. If they do acknowledge it, they’re likely still having a hard time actually accepting that they’ve reached this point. Be as sensitive as you can while explaining that this change is not an attack on them. It’s also not a suggestion that they’re incompetent. Try to approach it from a standpoint of deep appreciation for everything they’ve done – you want to do the same in return. You want to still have time to spend quality time together, rather than having to focus solely on caring for them. Ultimately, it may improve your relationship altogether, and this may be something worth mentioning as well.
Relating to Change
When your dear parent is rejecting senior care, think about how they have reacted to change in the past and incorporate this understanding into your approach. Maybe you can spark a conversation about different evolutions you each have experienced as a cushioned segway into the bigger talks. Have they mostly worked the same job throughout their lives? If so, this could be the first massive change in a long, long time. Is there anything that made changes easier in the past?
On the other hand, you may be able to bring up a positive lifestyle modification that occurred to help bridge the gap. Did you ever move to a new place with your parents as a child? You can explain how scary it was to adjust to the new environment while touching on the ways that you’re grateful it transformed you. Try to find a way to help them see this as the same thing – something that may feel big at first, but as they get used to it, they’ll realize it’s workable.
Needing Help is Not Weak
This is true for your loved one, and it’s true for you. If you feel like you’ve done all you can and your aging parent is still rejecting in-home care, it’s time to get a little help. You may want to reach out to a professional who is trained for these situations, or even a pastor, rabbi, or priest, depending on the background of your loved one.
You may need to get your siblings involved to help with easing them into the idea of senior care. If they’re convinced they don’t need help, they might compromise with you on an in-home aide just for two days a week. Let them know that it’s the only way you can go to work and live your life comfortably. It hurts to make loved ones feel like burdens, but if they’re uncooperative, you may need to be honest with them. They might even appreciate it. A little at a time, they might realize that it’s easier to feel safe and independent with someone around specifically to help them, whether they admit it at first or not.
Senior Care is Here
At A Better Solution In Home Care, our staff of nurses and caregivers are trained to care for those dearest to you and increase their quality of life. We understand the unique needs of every patient, and we strive to provide comprehensive plans that represent those needs. If you’re considering senior care for your elderly loved one, contact us today so we can begin discussing your options. Check out a complete list of our locations here.
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