Speaking with an elderly loved one about plans may be difficult, but the conversation has to occur. It’s best to know what your loved one wants regarding future living arrangements, treatments, caregiver assistance, and more. Below are some tips to make discussing future plans easier on your loved one and the entire family.
1. Ask Your Siblings to Attend the Family Meeting
Taking on the discussion alone could be difficult, which is why you should have your siblings and other family caregivers step in to help. They can take some of the pressure off you and make the conversation less tense and more relaxing. Prior to the family meeting, it would be best if you and your siblings draft a list of topics to discuss to reduce the risk of skipping over critical future plans.
2. Be Open to Opinions
As your parent’s primary caregiver, you may feel hesitant about taking advice from others, unless it’s a family physician, nurse, or other medical provider. However, you must be open to the opinions of others and include those tips in future care plans. As long as your loved one’s wishes aren’t overlooked, his or her health isn’t in jeopardy, and expenses are covered in the budget, include the opinions of others when developing plans.
3. Speak with a Doctor before Developing a Plan
This is a crucial step because it can guide the discussion. You need to know what future issues could arise regarding your loved one’s health to create an effective plan. Although each senior’s future is different, a primary care physician can go over the most common issues and situations, giving you more knowledge on what to add to the plan.
4. Always Include Your Parent
Your loved one has a right to voice his or her opinion regarding his or her health, and you need to listen. Hosting the meeting without your parent in attendance could make him or her more hesitant about receiving care from others, moving into a smaller home for easy maintenance, giving up driving privileges, and more. However, keeping your loved one involved in the process can make the discussions and transitions less stressful.
One great way to introduce your parent to the idea of getting help at home is to hire a caregiver for a few hours a day or a few days a week. For families living in Edmonton, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
5. Stay Positive
Regardless of how things go, keep a clear mind and a positive attitude. Some topics will be more challenging than others, but you need to find a way to work through those issues so you can develop a good plan for your parent’s future. Staying positive can make the discussions less emotional and more productive.
Remind your loved one he or she isn’t alone. Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional in-home care seniors can trust and rely on.
6. Start the Conversation
The tips above are great, but if you never start the discussion, it won’t happen. Therefore, you need to gather confidence and strength to discuss topics that may make you sad or uncomfortable. In the future, each conversation may be less intimidating.
Your parent may be reassured about receiving help in the future if he or she speaks personally with staff from a trustworthy home care provider. The type of homecare services Edmonton, Alberta, seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Home Care Assistance, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. If your loved one needs assistance with the challenges of aging, reach out to one of our knowledgeable, compassionate Care Managers today at (780) 490-7337.