Patients in need of care may find it difficult to receive the attention they require, especially when they are afraid of losing their independence. They don’t want a stranger in their home and they tend to dread the costs involved with having a caregiver.
Adult children may find difficulty in getting their parents to accept help, working with them while balancing their own lives and being supportive of their parent’s wishes. In fact, many adult children regret not getting their parents care sooner, despite their attempts to fight it.
Over 65 million people in our country today are caring for a loved one. Here are a few ways caring for parents can be effective.
Start slow
Since most parents are going to resist care, try to start slow. Bring a caregiver in just once a week to help with driving or cleaning duties. Hopefully, your parent will start to build a relationship with this person. Once the relationship has formed, it won’t be as big of a deal for the caregiver to help with more health-related tasks.
Talk to your parents
Always keep open communication with your parents. Don’t just assume what type of care preferences they have or don’t have. Talk with them or their primary heath care physician so you can be sure of the treatment they require.
Become educated
Start reading and doing research as soon as possible about potential payment plans and care options. It will help to be knowledgeable on the topic when talking with parents. Sometimes, Medicare won’t cover nursing homes for long-term care, which could cost up to $75,000 a year. It will also help to seek advice from a financial advisor.
Get professional advice
Talk to a social worker, elder law attorney and geriatric care manager, in addition to the financial advisor to get a better picture of all the help your parent is going to require. All of these different professionals can help you understand the financial, legal and emotional challenges involved in caring for your parent.
Respect your parents feelings
Make sure you are not demanding your parents do something they are uncomfortable with. Your parent should feel like you are looking out for their care, rather than treating them like a child. Your parent’s autonomy is important to them, so respect their opinions and feelings regarding care options.
Taking these steps and being proactive is the best way to get your parents to accept help and feel loved. Be sure to respect their feelings, talk to professionals and read materials to become educated on their options. For more information about in home care, contact Select Home Car today.
Photo by Parker Knight
