It is always an odd stage in life when the roles between a parent and child get reversed. When you have relied on your father for advice and assistance your whole life, it can be bewildering to realize that he is now at a point when he needs your help. And as uncomfortable as you may feel about this role reversal, Assisting Hand Palm Beach would agree with you that it is nothing compared to the discomfort your elderly father is experiencing.

Seniors are notorious for fighting or flat out refusing care. They are part of an older generation who were taught that relying on others for help was a sign of weakness. Even though you love your father and want to take care of him, he may resist you with every fiber in his being. This can be a real problem when your father obviously needs help. If he doesn’t get the help he needs, he could very well be in danger. If you want to protect your dad, you first must break through the barrier and get him to accept help. To accomplish this, here are three strategies you can follow to cope with a father who refuses care.

1. Learn What to Do if Your Elderly Father Refuses Medical Evaluation or Treatment

When you are dealing with a father who resists going to the doctor, the most important thing to keep in mind is persistence. You have to keep pushing until you can break through his shell. If you have siblings, it is a good idea to enlist their help in this battle. When you all get together to talk with him, make sure that you do not get aggressive. Aggression could cause him to harden his stance. It is important to stay calm and to talk rationally about the situation. Avoid getting angry or emotional. Let your father know that you want him to get him help because you love him. Also, there is nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned guilt trip when it is in the name of a good cause. Getting your dad to seek medical treatment definitely qualifies.

2. How to Overcome the Objections of an Elderly Father

Many seniors will resist every step of the way when you are trying to get them home care in North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and other surrounding areas. The key thing you need to do is to make them spell out their objections. Once you know what the objections are, you can overcome them. The most common objection that many elderly folks make to getting care is that they do not want to lose their independence. If this is the case, the solution is simple. Make sure to explain that getting assistance for your father is about allowing him to retain his independence as long as possible. Getting help means more freedom rather than less.

3. Using a Home Care Agency Vs. Hiring Directly

Sometimes, you may encounter resistance to in-home care from your father because he doesn’t want a stranger in his home. You need to explain to him that you and your siblings cannot be there 24 hours a day to take care of him. When he wants to retain his independence, a staff member from a home care agency in North and Central Palm Beach County FL is a smart move. Explain to him that even though this person may be a stranger at first, he will quickly get to know the care member. Hiring a caregiver from a home healthcare agency ensures that the caregiver is someone who has undergone extensive background checks, which means that your father can rest easy that the caregiver is trustworthy.

It may seem like climbing up a mountain when you are trying to get your father to accept help, but you will succeed if you are patient and persistent. You can anticipate many objections, but overcoming them is easy when you stay calm. Just make sure to emphasize that this help means more freedom instead of less, and you will prevail.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the care of a loved one and would like to better understand the options for senior home care, do not hesitate to call our Assisting Hands® Palm Beach office today at (561) 566-5989 to learn about how we can be help.

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