Growing older doesn’t mean seniors value their privacy any less. The truth is they need to maintain their privacy to build their self-confidence and boost their overall health. Here are a few ways family caregivers can honour their senior parents’ privacy.
1. Listen
Listening is a simple way to respect a senior’s privacy. When you truly listen to your elderly loved one, you may understand him or her better. Don’t interrupt your parent while he or she speaks. Wait until your loved one has finished so you can give a suitable reply. If your parent doesn’t feel like talking, respect his or her wishes.
Honouring an older parent’s wishes can be challenging for an overworked family caregiver. Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of in-home care. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
2. Knock before Entering the Bedroom
Never walk into your parent’s room when the door is shut. The bedroom may be the only area of the home where seniors feel like they have control, so entering without knocking is a direct violation of their privacy. However, if you knock several times and there’s no response, you should enter to ensure your loved one hasn’t been harmed or injured. Announce that you intend to open the door because your parent didn’t respond and that you’re entering to make sure he or she is okay.
3. Pay Attention to Body Language
The way seniors physically respond to situations or people often speaks louder than words. If your loved one has folded arms while you’re talking, he or she may not be optimistic about what you’re saying. Personal space is also important for aging adults. Watch how your parent responds when you’re talking. When seniors back up or move away while talking, it could indicate their personal space is being violated.
4. Encourage Independence
Losing control of their health could cause seniors to become depressed and isolated, but encouraging independence is one way to honour their privacy. You can help your loved one out with daily activities, but let him or her perform tasks independently as much as possible. When you encourage independence, you allow your parent to maintain some control over his or her life, which includes personal space.
Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of respite care Edmonton seniors can depend on.
5. Be More Trusting
When seniors have to explain themselves and justify their actions, it could feel like an invasion of privacy. Your loved one can still make most of the decisions in his or her life, even if you don’t always agree. Judging your parent and failing to trust him or her could disrupt the atmosphere in the home. Everyone makes mistakes, but not every error warrants a lecture.
Older adults who want to age in the comfort of home while having their privacy respected should consider professional in-home care. When researching agencies that provide homecare services, Edmonton, Alberta, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance. To learn about our premier in-home care plans and how they can help your loved one, give us a call at (780) 490-7337 today.