It’s hard to ignore that your parents are having a harder time with their routine chores. Your mom’s doctor diagnosed dementia and recommended she stop driving. Your dad’s been diagnosed with cataracts and isn’t supposed to drive in dim lighting.
They may need help with medication reminders, showering, meals, and cleaning. Whatever their needs are, you’re hiring caregivers to help. How do you get them to cooperate with their new caregiver?
Make Yourself Available at First
For the first week or two, work from your parents’ house if possible. How long you need to be there depends on how often they have home care services. If they have caregiver visits once a week, you may need to be available for the first month of caregiver visits. You should only need to be around for a week with daily visits.
Don’t hang around in the same room. The caregiver needs to have a chance to build a rapport with your mom and dad. Instead, set up a workspace where you can work from their home. A den, corner of a family room, or dining room are good options.
When the caregiver needs you to intervene, you’re there to help out. The rest of the time, stay out of the way and let them adjust to each other.
Explain Why It’s Important
Make sure your parents know why it’s important for them to have caregivers. It’s not meant to take away their freedom and independence, which is what many older adults fear. Caregivers are there only to help them with the chores they can’t do without help or without having someone else complete them.
Go over a list of home care services with your mom and dad. Let them talk about the things they have a hard time doing on their own. Add those to a list of services they’d like. If there are things they want to do on their own, make sure that goes into a note that says they want to do this on their own for now.
Involve Your Parents in the Decision-Making Process
Involve your parents as you research home care agencies in their area. If they have questions, make sure they have a chance to ask them. Ensure they understand the answers and have the option to ask additional questions until things are clear. Let them interview possible caregivers, if that’s an option, and see which of them seem to click best with your parents’ personalities and interests.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Homecare in Gulfport, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
