More than half of all family caregivers say their aging relatives are extremely resistant to any kind of in-home care. This is a real problem for family caregivers worried about the safety of loved ones who might be forgetting food on the stove, or neglecting to take their medications. If seniors do relent, and are willing to accept help, often it’s only from relatives. Which can put undue pressure on family caregivers who have other demands on their own time… such as work or family.
That’s why the Home Instead Senior Care network has created Caring for Your Parents: Education for the Family CaregiverSM. Here are five strategies, drawn from this Program, to help family caregivers turn resistance into assistance.
1. Discuss their resistance. Talk to your parents about their reasons for turning down outside help. Are they afraid of losing control, or of seeming less independent? Probably one discussion won’t do it, but don’t give up.
2. Define your goals. Explain that a little outside help can keep them at home longer, and will put your mind at ease. Be candid about the impact that caring for them is having on your life. Often, seniors don’t understand the time commitments of a family caregiver.
3. Bring in outside help. A third-party, whether it’s a professional like a doctor or geriatric care manager, or even a friend or family member, may be able to intervene and help you communicate your concerns. Also, go to www.4070talk.com for tips on how to talk with a loved one.
4. Research your options. Contact the SCV Senior Center or a geriatric care manager to research resources in the area. Or go to www.homeinstead.com and click on the resources tab for The Home Care Solution, a guide for family caregivers to help them find the best in-home care.
5. Respect your parents’ decision. Sometimes you won’t agree with your parents’ decisions and that’s okay. As long as your loved one is of sound mind, he or she should have the final say. But, when you start to see changes, initiate the discussion again.
For more information on Home Instead’s Caring for Your Parents program, call us at 661-254-8701, and we’ll send you a printed copy of “Recognizing (and Coping with) the Signs of Aging.”