We don’t always have the right answers, even when we want to do the best for somebody we love. Many family caregivers in the US have never done anything like this before; they just don’t always know what to do.
That doesn’t mean they are wrong, not by any stretch of the imagination. It is an incredibly sacrificial and amazing form of love to put some of your life on hold or set things aside to look out for the best interest of a family member, such as an aging parent or grandparent.
However, the best thing we can do for those we love is ensure they have the right support and care. Experience is essential to providing the best level of care, and that’s what you find with the right in-home care services.
There are many ways to choose in-home care, but if you want to make it work best for your elderly mother or father or both, let’s discuss three ways you can help make that happen.
1. Make sure the senior is involved in the process.
If your elderly mother or father is lucid and cogent and can make rational and reasoned decisions for themselves, you should not decide on in-home care for them. Instead, talk to them about it.
At first, they may be opposed to the idea, but that most often comes from a place of misunderstanding or misconceptions. Many Americans have the wrong idea about what in-home care is and what it offers.
Learn as much as you can about the facts surrounding in-home care. Recognize that experienced professionals can help seniors be more comfortable in their homes, help them remain in the homes where they are most comfortable, and even may be able to help them stay more active.
Many family members who take on the role of a primary caregiver have other responsibilities, such as a job, career, raising children, and so forth. They may not be able to devote the kind of time this aging senior needs, at least not at this stage in their life. Just make sure that when you look into in-home care you include the senior in the entire process.
2. Give room for the new in-home care aide to work.
Yes, you may know everything about this aging senior and want to make sure they are fully comfortable and relaxed, but you don’t know everything about the in-home care aide, their experience, or how they will approach caring for your loved one.
Give him or her the emotional and physical space to operate. Sometimes, it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself, at least for a while, and see how things go. The experienced caregiver may do things a little bit differently than you had, but that may be a good thing.
Of course, if things don’t seem to be working out after a few weeks, then speak up, but make sure you give them room and respect to operate how they’ve been trained and how they have helped countless other seniors through the years.
3. Respect both the senior and the caregiver.
Giving the in-home care aide room to operate doesn’t necessarily mean you respect him or her. Respect means you give them the opportunity to speak, listen to what they have to say, and acknowledge their experience.
The same holds true for seniors who need help. Just because your aging mother or father needs help to perform some activities of daily life now doesn’t mean they deserve less respect. In fact, they should receive more.
Follow these three simple guidelines to help in-home care work best for the one you love.
If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care in Menlo Park, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today at (415) 463-1400
Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.
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