Skip to main content

Making Tough Conversations with Aging Parents Easier

Taking care of your aging parents can be challenging. For so many years, they took care of you and protected you, and now the tables are turned, and you’re doing the same for them. But it can be hard to ask them to give up their car keys, change their financial habits, move into assisted living, or accept help from an in-home caregiver. Many seniors want to maintain their independence and may feel that you are trying to take that away, even if you’re just looking out for their best interests.

When it comes to having difficult conversation with your aging parents:

Be patient. Realize that it can take time to get them on board and to get all of the right services in place. Change can be hard to accept, so give them a chance to think things over and figure out how they will adjust. Make changes slowly to ease transitions, and take their input into consideration.

Start early. It’s best to start talking to your parents about senior care before they need it. Bring up discussions as naturally as possible while they are in a good mood and good health. This can allow you to get important paperwork in place such as a living will, advanced directives, power of attorney, financial management, etc. Find out how they want things to be handled should they become unable to make decisions for themselves. Talking about things a little bit at a time can ease stress.

Have a plan. Do your research and know what services or resources are available. If you’re taking away their car keys, what are you doing to address their transportation needs? If you think they’re unsafe at home, what protections can you put in place? Look into different options including accommodations for aging in place, in-home caregivers, or assisted living facilities. Keep an open mind and work with your aging parent to decide what is best for them and what they would feel most comfortable with.

Ask for input. Listen to your senior’s concerns and try to answer any questions they may have as honestly as possible. Share your concerns as well so they have a better understanding of why you want to make changes or get them additional support. Involve them in decision making so they don’t feel as though you’re taking away their control or independence.

Seek help. You don’t have to handle tough conversations all on your own. Ask siblings or other family members to get involved too. Together you may be able to make a more compelling argument and gain buy-in from your aging parent. Plus, you’ll have others to back you up and help you work through decisions. You can also talk to a senior care provider to see if they have additional tips or insight. They work with seniors every day and strive to keep them safer, happier, and healthier.

Always Best Care works with you to determine the right level of care and support for your aging parent. In-home caregivers are available a few hours per week, or a few hours per day, depending on your senior’s needs, and they can assist with a wide range of activities to support aging in place. Take things one step at a time and contact Always Best Care today at (855) 470-2273 to schedule a free consultation.



from Always Best Care https://ift.tt/3b7rM6H
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Connection Between Aging, Exercise, and Healthy Lungs

Enjoying a long and healthy retirement requires taking good care of yourself. While many people focus on living a heart-smart lifestyle, taking proactive steps to maintain healthy lungs is essential, too. As we age, the lungs become weaker and less flexible. This can contribute to a variety of diseases and chronic health conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , lung-related illnesses are the 3rd leading cause of death in this country. That includes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma—adding up to nearly 235,000 deaths a year. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your lungs healthy: Stop smoking. Talk with your primary care physician about smoking cessation programs. Avoid secondhand smoke. Research shows it can be just as deadly as being a smoker. Stay away from harsh chemicals. It’s important to avoid breathing in damaging fumes (e.g., home cleaners and weed killers). Prevent infections. Many infections can lead to
Post a Comment
Read more

How You Can Join the Fight Against Alzheimer’s

World Alzheimer’s Month in September is an opportunity to raise awareness about this complex disease and to challenge the stigmas surrounding dementia. Launched in 2012, the awareness month spotlights the fact that 2 out of every 3 people globally believe there is little understanding of dementia in their countries. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia and it is the 6 th leading cause of death in the US, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual report. With the senior population growing quickly, Alzheimer’s and dementia cases will continue to increase as well, unless researchers can find a cure. This upcoming Monday, Sept. 21, is World Alzheimer’s Day, a call to action for all of us to educate ourselves on how to take preventative steps, identify symptoms and support loved ones who have been diagnosed. Read more below to learn how to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. Know the Warning Signs Detecting Alzheimer’s disease e
Post a Comment
Read more

Film Screening at Samvedna Senior Care

On 30th September, 2019, Samvedna Senior Care Foundation hosted the 2nd film festival of generations in association with Heidelberg University, Germany. The film Sputnik Moment – 30 years and beyond was screened at our senior citizen centre in Gurgaon for our members and staff. The film highlighted how senior citizens in Germany and the US were taking up second careers to fill their time, engage meaningfully and also get support through additional income. Post the screening Dr. Martin Gieselmann, Executive Secretary, SAI, Heidelberg University and Dr. Constanze, Coordinator DAAD Project, Heidelberg University along with our team engaged with the audience in an interesting discussion on the Indian scenario. Members shared that in India it is not easy for senior citizens to pick up jobs after retirement, however it was interesting to see that many in the audience did have jobs post retirement. They also spoke about stereotypes and social attitudes towards ageing and shared their per
Post a Comment
Read more