Many older adults refuse having assistance from their families. While you don’t want to infringe upon your aging parent’s rights, you may be worried about his or her safety. When it’s impossible to see things from each other’s point of view, you can use the following tips to find a solution for your loved one’s care that works for both of you.
Determine the Reason for the Refusal
Your loved one may quietly brush off your concerns or outright refuse to accept the fact that he or she is facing difficulty with daily tasks. Either way, you need to understand the true reasons for your parent’s refusal. For instance, he or she may just be worried about putting you through more stress or changing your relationship. After all, accepting help from an adult child is difficult for many seniors. If this is the case, talk about ways others can help with the daily routine, such as having a professional caregiver drop in for a few hours a day.
If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional home care, Edmonton Home Care Assistance should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults manage their health and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years.
Take Steps to Secure Your Parent’s Safety
While you’re waiting for your parent to accept your help, you cannot ignore his or her safety. Identify potential safety hazards around the house. For example, your loved one may need to have grab bars installed in the shower if he or she has difficulty maintaining balance. Alternatively, your parent may need an alarm system set up to remind him or her when to take medications.
Discuss Specific Needs
Your loved one may not realize exactly how badly he or she needs your help. For instance, your parent may have dementia and have fallen for a scam. Alternatively, your loved one may have difficulty managing personal hygiene but not realize how bad the situation has gotten. Using tact, talk to your parent about specific areas in which he or she needs help. Then, ask him or her to work with you to find a solution.
Lay Out the Options
After giving your loved one some time, you may need to step in and be firm about your offer to help. Tell your parent you need to talk, and arrive at your meeting with a list of options he or she can choose from. For instance, you can show your loved one that he or she can remain at home with the help of a caregiver. Narrowing down the options may provide a sense of relief that your loved one won’t be forced to completely give up his or her independence.
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.
Highlight the Positive Side of Receiving Help
Your parent may have heard negative things about having assistance at home. If this is the case, you need to remind him or her that everyone has different experiences. Having someone come in to clean the house or prepare a meal frees up your parent’s time so he or she can truly enjoy retirement. Over time, your loved one may develop a relationship with his or her caregiver and look forward to having someone come visit.
Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable elder care. Edmonton, AB, families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age. To learn about our high-quality in-home care plans, give us a call at (780) 490-7337 today.