How to Encourage Elderly Parents to Accept In-Home Care

1. How to Encourage Elderly Parents to Accept In-Home Care As parents get older it is hard for them to change the way they live and accept outside help. They don’t want to lose their autonomy. What once was easy for them to accomplish has become difficult or almost impossible to accomplish. Tasks around the house or personal care become complicated to do. In-home senior care is a service that as a family we need to encourage elderly parents to consider. But how do you convince your parents to accept this and how do you go about finding the right in-home care service. What are their needs? Take a step back to understand how much help your parent needs with everyday life. Make a list of things that your parents require assistance with. This list will help you have the right discussions with them and with potential caregivers. Here are 8 key areas to help you put your list today: ● Family support ● Home safety ● Medical needs ● Cognitive health ● Mobility ● Personal hygiene ● Meal preparation ● Social interaction

2. How much support are they already getting in each category and how much help do they really need to stay safe and healthy? Maintaining their autonomy. If your aging parents do not want to go and stay in a nursing home or care facility but want to retain their autonomy and remain in their home, encourage it! It is understandable, they want to remain in the home that they have lived in for a while and are familiar with. Explain to them that if they are to remain in their home that it will only be possible with the presence of a trained and qualified caregiver. Show them the course of action that will include their input. Include your parents when meeting with caregivers, if this is possible. These steps will make them feel in control of their own lives and give them a sense of accomplishment. Remember your own needs. Every child who takes care of their elderly parents is in different stages in their lives. Don’t try to do everything on your own. Remember to take care of your own health and family and don’t forget to have time for yourself. We want our parents to be safe and healthy. And it’s not selfish or heartless if you’re not the best person to personally provide that care. Just looking out for their health and safety and arranging for the help needed, you are being supportive and caring. Be understanding of their feelings and listen. There are many reasons for elderly parents to not accept help. They are fearful of the unknown and don’t want to lose control of their lives. They want to remain independent and most certainly don’t want to become a burden on their family. Remember to have this conversation with them when they are relaxed and put yourself in their situation. Treat your aging parents like adults. ● When you are talking with your parents remember to do so with the intention to listen and make them feel heard. ● Avoid arguing, correcting, or trying to convince them, this isn’t the time. Be patient! It is not easy to provide in-home care to elderly parents, and it is a time-consuming task. But don’t give up. It will take time to adjust, and in the end, they will come around! If you are in looking for eldercare in Montreal, consider contacting Hadley Reese.