When you were growing up, you and your parents had your fair share of awkward conversations. From the ubiquitous tale of the birds and the bees to ground rules for using the family car, these conversations were as difficult as they were necessary.
Now the tables have turned, and you are the one having those difficult conversations. Your parents are older now, and clearly struggling with the necessities of daily life. And whether you are talking to one parent or both, discussing the need for in home care is a delicate and difficult process.
Most seniors say they would prefer to remain in their own homes as they age, and few express a desire to enter a nursing home or assisted living facility. But safety concerns and other issues can make traditional living arrangements dangerous, and when that happens in home care can fill the gap.
In home care can help seniors who would otherwise end up in nursing homes stay where they are, but the first step is convincing those elderly men and women to accept the help that is available. So how do you talk to your mom or dad about in home care, and how can you get them to listen to your concerns?
Stress Safety Concerns
Many seniors are in denial about their lack of safety, even if they have experienced frequent falls or repeated hospitalizations. They may put those incidents down to bad luck or carelessness, and they may not understand the need for in home assistance.
When you embark on this difficult conversation, try to stress your concerns about safety. You might talk about how concerned you are about their security, and how you worry about them when you are working and fret every time you have to leave town. Talking about your own feelings can give you an entry point with an elderly loved one even when they would otherwise be resistant to your overtures.
Talk About In Home Care as an Alternative to a Nursing Home
If you want to convince an elderly loved one to accept in home care, start by stressing that the choice is not between in home care and nothing, but in home care and a nursing facility. If your loved one is experiencing frequent falls and repeated hospital stays, the current situation is clearly not sustainable, and it is important to stress that basic fact.
When viewed through this lens, the idea of accepting in home care may not be so bad. If your mom or dad understands that the alternative to in home care is a nursing home, they will likely be more receptive to the help you are suggesting. If you have an elderly loved one still living at home, you probably worry about their safety, but having a conversation about care is not always easy. Even so, it is important to persevere, stressing that in home care could be a suitable, and safer, alternative to entering a nursing home.
