{"id":13833,"date":"2022-04-04T08:00:09","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T08:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/94\/?p=13833"},"modified":"2022-04-08T16:13:12","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T16:13:12","slug":"how-to-talk-about-senior-home-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/94\/how-to-talk-about-senior-home-care\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for \u201cThe Talk\u201d About Senior Home Care"},"content":{"rendered":"

While growing up our parents were there to give us loving advice geared towards making smart decisions.\u00a0 Some of those conversations were difficult, and the choices were hard.\u00a0 Now the roles are reversed, and you find yourself in the unenviable position of needing to discuss senior home care with your aging parents.\u00a0 You\u2019ve noticed lately that mom and dad simply aren\u2019t taking care of themselves and their household like they once did, and that they oftentimes seem tired.\u00a0 They love their independence and want to stay in their home, and you want that too.\u00a0 But you\u2019re anticipating denial from your parents, and they could even get defensive.\u00a0 Carefully preparing for \u201cThe Talk\u201d about senior home care with your parents takes some thought ahead of time.\u00a0 To ensure a more positive and productive discussion, follow these steps beforehand.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Put Yourself in Their Shoes<\/h2>\n

According to a recent study by the AARP, 90% of seniors desire to stay in their homes, also known as \u201caging in place\u201d. \u00a0 In addition to their independence, seniors want to continue enjoying relationships with family and friends.\u00a0 Pride is also a factor, as it\u2019s hard to admit they can\u2019t take care of themselves when they\u2019ve nurtured others their entire lives.\u00a0 An example of this later in life is when one spouse has declining health and their partner takes care of them, which can be exhausting.\u00a0 If mom or dad has been diagnosed with something like dementia, Alzheimer\u2019s, or Parkinson\u2019s, conduct some advanced research to help you understand what they\u2019re both experiencing, and what lies ahead.\u00a0 Two great resources for this include Elder Care (ElderCare.com) and the National Council on Aging (ncoa.org).<\/p>\n

Before planning a sit-down with your parents, discuss your observations with siblings and other family members, and seek their unified support while keeping it confidential until it\u2019s time for \u201cThe Talk\u201d.\u00a0 Share what type of daily or weekly assistance you think your aging parents need.\u00a0 Then decide who will be joining you when sitting down with your parents, but avoid a large group as that could be perceived as \u201cganging up\u201d on them.\u00a0 One final approach is to get advice from others who\u2019ve gone through the same situation.\u00a0 In the end, taking these precautions will help guarantee a more productive senior care conversation with your parents.<\/p>\n

Anticipate Their Objections<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve compiled a list of family members who\u2019ll be joining you for \u201cThe Talk\u201d about senior care with your parents.\u00a0 Contact your parents and tell them you need to discuss something important and plan to meet in a non-threatening setting like their home\u2019s living room or kitchen table.\u00a0 Before the meeting, consider objections that your parents might raise, like:<\/p>\n