How to Talk to Seniors About In-Home Care & Address Concerns

In-home care is unfamiliar territory for many seniors and their families. It’s understandable why receiving care is hard to accept after a lifetime of taking care of themselves and others. Unfortunately, their opposition does not change the need for care. Here are some common concerns seniors have regarding in-home care and strategies you can use to address them.

“I don’t need help; I can do it all myself!”

For many seniors, it’s hard to accept that they need assistance, or they may not realize how many tasks are being completed by friends and family.

Try using this exercise to highlight their potential care needs:

Keep a list in a notebook of the things they need help with during the week
Each time they receive help with a task or errand (or realize they could use assistance with them), have your loved one write it down in the notebook

Seniors are often surprised by the length of the list and the tasks noted. These are great areas for caregivers or clinicians to provide aid in ways your loved one has already recognized.

It may be helpful to explain how their family could benefit from in-home care as well. Your relationship with your loved one can shift from family member to caregiver when you are managing their daily needs. In-home care can help restore that dynamic by providing dedicated professionals to care for them.

“If I start getting help, I’ll lose my independence.”

Some seniors view receiving care as a slippery slope to losing their independence and relying on others to take care of them for everything. However, in-home care allows seniors to maintain their independence longer.

Caregivers assist your loved ones when they need help and encourage them to do other tasks as they are able. Occupational and physical therapists make modifications to their home, activities, and routines so they can safely bathe, dress, cook, clean, and complete other daily tasks. Helping seniors maintain their independence while aging safely in place is a high priority of in-home care.

“In-home care costs way too much.”

Worrying about the price of care is understandable as health care can be a major expense. Here are two useful ways to address their concerns:

There are many ways to pay for in-home care your loved one may not have considered.
Long-term care insurance policies may cover services, and Medicare insurance plans can pay for their short-term needs. For veterans, their VA benefits may provide caregivers and home health aides.
*Check out this AARP article outlining other methods to help ease the financial burden of at-home care.
It’s important to compare the expense of in-home home to other options. Housing and care in a residential facility (for example assisted living, retirement communities, nursing homes, etc.) will cost exceptionally more than in-home care. According to a 2020 survey from Genworth, the average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in an assisted living facility is double that of in-home care. While rates will vary depending on the services and hours needed, in-home care is often a more cost-effective option to keep your loved one happy and healthy.

Let CareAparent help you and your loved one.

If you are having issues assuring your loved one that in-home care is a good option for them, CareAparent is here to help. Our team will complete a complimentary consultation to understand their needs and explain how we can care for them in their home. We are certified by Medicare and accredited by The Joint Commission, so you can trust us to keep your loved ones safe and lighten your load.

Visit our blog for additional resources like this one, or call us at 651.702.HOME (4663) to view service and payment options and to request a complimentary consultation to see how we can help you and your loved one.