6 TIPS TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE TO CARE
“If you encounter the resistance of your elderly loved one to receive help, we can help you open discussions in a respectful and gentle manner.”
As we grow older, most people want to stay in the comfortability of their own home. However, as people get older, dealing with day-to-day tasks can become ever more challenging. In several situations, it becomes evident when it’s time for Mother or Father to have some extra help, and many elderly people are thankful for the assistance.
But what if your elderly loved one resists any efforts for extra help to stay at home? This situation may be especially disheartening for many families.
There are a few things you can really do to accept assistance, but before you take any action, this may be helpful to understand some of the reasons behind your loved one’s resistance to getting the help they require.
TIPS TO OVERCOME RESISTANCE TO CARE
- Choose the right time Â
It is good to bring this subject up at the right point. Many people make the blunder of bringing up caregivers when their loved one is in a position of frustration or has a medical condition. It’s obvious that it would be the most prominent time in your mind, but realize the frustration that your loved one feels in those times. They might feel angry, annoyed, or even ashamed about what’s going on with them, and that might make them much more resilient to accept that they need assistance.
Choose a time when you and your mother or father feel comfortable and can think like an active participant in a discussion, rather than a person who’s being advised what to do. If your parent has just suffered an injury or accident that makes it very clear that they need help, wait until the dust settles and you can convince them why you are concerned about it. In the aftereffects of the incident, they may be even more willing to listen.
- Focus on the positive aspects
No one likes to lose their self-rule, and some elderly people think that taking care of them means losing control of their lifestyles. Realize that a home caregiver would be there to assist them, and their main goal is to keep them comfortable pleased, and happy. Patients and home caregivers often see one another as friends.
- Talk about how it helps you
No matter how much your mother or father objects to receiving support, they’re just going to need it, and if it doesn’t come from a care provider, it’s going to come from you. As much as you might want to support your parent when they need, you need to understand your own requirements. Don’t try to blame your parent, but describe to them that having a home caregiver will give you comfort and make things easier for the both of you.
- Stay up to date
Your parent will try to remind you that the caregiver at home is inconvenient. They will mention the costs or claim that their doctor is already keeping track of them. If you don’t have an instant answer to these concerns, avoid talking and then do some research. Show your parent how this is going to work and that you’ve been seriously thinking about it. It can take a few interactions before a parent starts to take things seriously.
- Listen to your parent
Your parent may be worried that accepting support will be the first move towards being ignored. Don’t disappoint their objections about at-home care. Make sure they feel valued and convince them that you’re not attempting to take their independence away from them. Sometimes letting them understand that you’re on their side would be enough to open them up to home care.
- Don’t give up.
Suggest a trial if they are hesitant to seeking permanent care. This enables them to see what it looks like to receive help, and a favorable experience can instantly turn what was a partial solution into a continual arrangement. Situations and opinions change over time, so you may get a positive result after a trial.
