If your senior wants to continue living in their home but you think they need help to live alone safely, elder care is a great solution. However, your senior parent may not want to admit that they need help. It’s common for seniors who want to live alone to deny that they are having a hard time with things like keeping the house clean or shopping.

Trying to talk to your mom or dad about getting elder care to help them out can be tough if they’re not open to the idea. And often seniors are worried that if they accept help that they won’t be able to continue living in their home.

So, when you’re talking to them about elder care make sure that you reassure your mom or dad that you just want them to get some help and you’re not trying to force them to leave their home. Some other tips that will help you talk to your mom or dad about elder care are:

Approach with Empathy

Try to be sensitive to your senior parent’s anxiety about getting help. Acknowledge their feelings and fears. Use empathetic language to communicate that you are there to support them and that your intention is to make things easier for both of you.

Choose the Right Time and Setting

Have the conversation during a time when your senior parent is relaxed and in a positive mood. Avoid discussing these topics during times of stress or when they are tired or cranky. Find a quiet and private space where you can talk without interruptions so that the two of you can really listen to each other.

Focus on Specific Benefits

Instead of focusing on what your senior parent might lose if they have help from a care provider, emphasize how the help could improve their quality of life. Stress the safety, comfort, and convenience of having a care provider helping them regularly. Share specific examples of how support services or changes could make them happier and healthier at home.

Involve Your Senior Parent in the Decision-Making

Present options rather than dictating solutions. This will give your mom or dad a sense of control and involvement in the process. Ask for their opinions and preferences about the type of help they want, the tasks they would still like to do themselves, and how often a caregiver should visit.

Be Patient and Persistent

Understand that accepting help can be a process and may require multiple discussions. Be patient with your mom or dad and give them time to process the information. If they’re not ready to discuss it in depth, try bringing it up again at a later date with the same care and empathy.

Start With A Trial Run

If your mom or dad is on the fence about getting care ask them if they will commit to a trial run. Getting elder care just one or two days per week will give your senior parent a chance to experience the benefits of having a care provider.

If you are considering elder care in Memorial, TX for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.

At Your Side Home Care, provides exceptional home care assistance for seniors and families in Houston, West Houston, Katy, Memorial, The Heights, Spring Valley, Garden Oaks, Hunters Creek, River Oaks, Hilshire Village, Galleria, Cinco Ranch, Spring Branch, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenburg, Piney Point, Bay City and surrounding areas.

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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