For anyone with aging parents, you know that any decline in health and capability can be difficult to address. If your parent’s home is not as tidy as it used to be, or they can’t remember when to take their medication, that’s worrying. They may even not be eating very well anymore because cooking is more difficult for them.
For many whose parents have reached this point, in-home care is the perfect solution. You do not want to move your parents from their home that they have been in for countless years, but you know they need some help. Making this decision is a tough one, but bringing this subject up to your parents may be even tougher. It is a conversation that you need to have, but maybe you are at a loss about how to discuss it with your parents.
Get the Facts Straight
The first thing to do is gather all the information you need. It won’t do you any good if you do not have your facts straight. Here are some general services that in-home care companions will offer:
- Personal and Companion Care
- Meal Planning and Preparation
- Reminders about Medications
- Skilled Nursing Care
- Transportation
- Housekeeping and Laundry Services
- Shopping and Errands
These are just a few services that may be available to your parents.
Once you have decided which company will be the best for your aging parents, you have to have a way to present the information. Make sure that you are organized and have everything lined out about what you want to say. Keep in mind how your parents may feel when you talk to them for the first time — it is not at all unusual for some to be defensive, angry, or even sad when in-home care is initially brought up.
It helps to think about how you would feel if someone was talking to you about a sensitive subject such as this. Be sure you let your parent know that you only want to make sure that they are safe and cared for, and that they can maintain a great quality of life as they grow older. You can even point out how much more free time they’ll have with a helper taking care of chores and meals!
Better Together
If you have siblings or other close family members that you are on good terms with, then you may want to involve them in this process as well. Talk over your thoughts with your siblings, including what lead you to consider going down the route of in-home care. You can share your research with them and possibly speak with the providers together. It may also be easier on you and your parents if you and you siblings show a united front about this topic.
The last thing to remember is to be respectful and considerate of your parents. This may catch them off guard, so give them time to digest all that you are telling them. Make sure that you truly listen to what they have to say in response. Always keep your parents and their feelings in the forefront of your mind when discussing in-home care. At the end of the day, you only want what is best for your parents because you love and care about them.
It’s our mission to help senior’s live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our offerings and services.