When Senior Care is Needed, but Not Wanted

Once in a while, seniors are resistant to the idea of having a caregiver come and help out. Independence is a strong ideal for many people, and the slightest infringement on that can be seen as a huge problem. Even small things, like helping with dishes or other minor household tasks can become an issue.

 

Do you have an older loved one that fits the above description? If and when they are in need of in-home care, even bringing the topic up might be very difficult. Many elderly individuals do not want any sort of senior care provided to them.

 

Unfortunately, wants and needs are not always the same thing. Nobody wants to need a caregiver, but physical or other disabilities might make it necessary for a caregiver to be present.

 

In these instances, there is a very delicate balance that needs to be maintained. You want to keep your loved one safe and healthy, but you also want their wishes to be respected. How can you do this? It will differ from situation to situation, but we have a couple tips for you.

 

Sometimes senior care is a necessity, but it is often unwanted.

 

One of the best ways to accomplish this is to introduce the subject of senior care gradually over a period of time. Additionally, you also need to know what to talk about. Senior care is a big topic. Do some research. This article is a great first step! Be loving, be gentle, and ensure your mom or dad that you want them to be both happy and safe.

 

Just remember that you know your mom or dad better than anyone else probably does. You know what they want out of life, and you know which things frustrate them. When you do approach this topic, it is important that you do so kindly and respectfully, being sensitive to their desires, but also being realistic. This is a tough topic to discuss in even the best situations, so it’s no wonder that senior care is something that most individuals do not talk about until it’s too late. By being open and honest with your parent, you can start the discussion before senior care is an emergency situation and get a better feel for what they want out of this. When this occurs, it is easier to balance wants and needs, and it is easier to ensure that the care that’s provided is both adequate to cover their needs, but not so intrusive that wants are sacrificed. It’s a fine line, but one that often does not need to be crossed.

 

Educating yourself is a key component of this. Know what types of care exist, and know how they can be applied to your loved one’s life. For example, in-home care doesn’t need to be given daily. If your mom or dad would benefit from two days of assistance per week, this can be given so that they still retain independence. Know what will help and what’s out there, and you can have a much more fruitful conversation with the person that you love. You can do much more to help them this way, too.

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