Communicating with Your Aging Parent
Tips for communicating effectively with aging parents.
Communicating with Your Aging Parent
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Presentation Transcript
ComForcare Communicating With Your Aging Parent • HOME CARE
If Your Parents are in Their 60s or 70s, It’s Time to Talk • It’s never too soon to talk about health care preferences and medical treatment options with your parents. • Knowing your parents’ wishes eliminates the burden of being the head of the family or sole decision maker during a time of crisis.
When to Talk to Your Parents • Health and age-related issues are often avoided in our society. These conversations are necessary, but hard for many adult children. • Whether you are a family caregiver, an adult child who lives far away from a loved one or simply a busy person, these talks should happen before a health-related situation arises.
Tips for a Successful and Productive Family Care Meeting • Prepare and distribute an agenda prior to the meeting. Ask your parents to prioritize the topics. • Provide options and facts for each topic so everyone feels more confident about their choices. • Don’t go into the meeting with mandates – listen first and question second.
Tips for a Successful and Productive Family Care Meeting • If the discussion becomes heated and conflicts cannot be resolved, stop for now and resume the conversation another time. • Look for solutions that maximize the parent’s independence. Focus on strengths and address contingency plans.
Tips for a Successful and Productive Family Care Meeting • Avoid “baby talk” or using a condescending tone. It puts people on the defensive and shows a lack of respect. • Consider bringing in a third party with expertise in health-related issues. A geriatric care manager, nurse, social worker or home care provider may be able to assist you.
ComForcare Home Care A premier provider of private duty home care services with locations throughout the United States and in Canada and the U.K. For a location near you, call: 800-886-4044 Supporting independence, dignity and quality of life ComForcare Home Care 2510 Telegraph Road, Suite 100 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 www.ComForcare.com