Hesitant about home care services? Here are the benefits

It’s understandable to be reluctant about getting home care services for one or both of your parents.

There are all sorts of concerns you need to worry about in terms of making sure they’re getting appropriately skilled, attentive care. Even if you’re open to the idea that your parent may need more help than they used to with certain tasks they used to be able to handle on their own, you need to be able to effectively vet any potential caregivers before working with them.

Not only that, the very idea of entering an assisted living situation is one that both many seniors and their children are apprehensive about. Considering this possibility may harm their confidence, as it may seem to be an admission of reduced competency as a result of their age.

Home care services don’t need to be viewed that way, and it’s important to understand how they can truly benefit your parent’s life when the time comes that they truly need these services.

In this post, Miami Valley Homecare will address why many seniors may hesitate to take advantage of services like ours and how we can offer the right level of help that’s truly suited to your individual situation.

Why seniors might reject home care services

In truth, objections to help with activities that were once routine aren't just limited to the space of home care services.

Many seniors even have trouble accepting this kind of help from their own children and other family members, regardless of how serious their situation may be. This doesn’t always just stem from a genuine belief in their capabilities or a desire not to burden others with their troubles; in many cases, the situation clashes with their perceived identity as a capable adult.

Your parent’s refusal of help may be manifesting in a few different ways, ranging from arguments to potentially more harmful behaviors like excluding family members who are helping to represent their interests, secretly engaging in activities they were asked not to perform, or very overtly engaging in those activities as a way of proving their capabilities and expressing their independence to others.

Getting the right level of help

So what does it take to get your parent to accept the help you can see that they need?

It may largely come down to framing this offer of help in the right way, as well as recognizing which activities your parent struggles with most and which ones they’re particularly clinging to as an expression of their independence.

You can strike that balance with assisted living services that target the most important, beneficial activities that your parent will accept help with.

This might be easier when you start with household tasks like cleaning, yard care, and handyman tasks, which many people of any age require outside help for, as well as certain specialized healthcare tasks specific to your parent’s situation.

As your parent becomes more accustomed to their caregiver, it may be easier for them to accept help for other tasks they’re beginning to struggle more with. Allowing them to accept this assistance at their own pace within their own home is the right approach for many seniors interested in retaining their independence and getting as much done on their own as possible.

Get skilled, empathetic home care services from Miami Valley Homecare

Talking to a loved one about entering an assisted living situation is never easy, but depending on their individual circumstances, it may be a necessary conversation, and it’s important to know how to go about it the right way. Knowing where your parent is most likely to accept or refuse help is the biggest part of that process.

If you have any questions about us or our services, contact us now, or request an assessment from us to better understand your loved one’s level of need for greater assistance.