How to Talk to Your Siblings About Senior Care – Comfort Keepers In-Home Care

It’s hard to see an aging parent loved ones growing older and in need of help. Especially when it comes to having the initial conversation about options like in-home care. 
Having that first conversation about a loved one and their needs. As a person ages, their ability to make decisions may diminish. For a decision as important as this one, everyone in the family should feel heard. 
Steps for a Successful Family Care Conversation 
Step 1: Plan the Conversation
As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Phone calls don’t always convey the complete picture of the situation. How can your family make this easier? Try to pick a date and time when you can get the whole family together and in person for this vital conversation. If it’s impossible to get your family together in person, a video call can be a great alternative. 
Try not to wait for an accident or medical emergency before addressing the future – after all, it is always harder to think clearly and make decisions in moments of crisis.  
Step 2: Share concerns from a place of love  
Although this can be intimidating, staying calm and taking breaks is important. The initial conversation is to understand each other and begin to set goals together as a family. Have the necessary paperwork or documents to help everyone in the family. Share any stories or anecdotes from the older family member’s doctors or friends will be helpful as well. It›s easier for everyone to understand the situation when medical records illustrate important care concerns. If the older member of the family expresses interest in staying in their home as they age, then in-home care may be the right choice for them. Seniors who use home care services report 25% fewer doctor visits than those who do not.
Step 3: Talk it out 
Make sure you give everyone time to speak; everyone might not always agree during this process but respecting each other and staying level-headed is key. Ultimately a good rule of thumb is to ask a lot of questions. Ask siblings and family members for their thoughts and what they think about getting an aging parent in-home assistance, and ask the loved one their desires for this next step in life. 
Myles McNamara is the owner of Comfort Keepers In-Home Care. Please call us at (661) 287-4200. We are located at 23900 Lyons Ave in Newhall, CA. 91321. Check our website at: https://www.comfortkeepeers.com