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Four Tips to Make Outside Help Easier for Your Senior to Accept

August 23, 2019
Linda Kunicki
Your senior might not like the idea of hiring home care providers the first time you mention it. She might be even less excited about the idea the second time you mention it. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t need outside help. 

Start a List of Solid Reasons for Help

Your senior’s initial reaction might be that she doesn’t need any extra help. You know that isn’t the case, but without more information you may not be able to convince her of that fact. Sit down and write out all the reasons you and your senior would benefit from having elder care providers helping out. These reasons might range from help with household tasks to being there for your senior when you can’t be.

Avoid Lying to Your Senior if You Can Help It

Sometimes little white lies are helpful. But when your elderly family member is already distrustful of a situation, like when you’re trying to bring in extra help for her, then even small lies can do more harm than good. Keeping your senior’s trust is important if you are going to continue to meet her needs.

There’s No Need to Rush This, Unless There Is a Reason

Making all of this happen faster isn’t going to be helpful necessarily, unless it’s vital that you have help sooner rather that later. This means you can take your time and allow your senior to come around to your way of thinking. But that can take a bit more time than you expect, especially if your senior feels that she has some valid reasons to resist the idea.

Make Sure She Has Choices, Even Small Ones

Part of why your aging family member might resist this idea so strongly can have to do with her own independence. If she feels as if she doesn’t have any choices and won’t be able to have a say in what’s going to happen, that can be hugely motivating for her in terms of declining your idea. Even small decisions, like having help in the morning or in the afternoon, can be empowering for your senior.

Even with doing everything the best way that you can with this situation, your senior might still have some misgivings about having elder care providers helping her. You might have to both be patient and just do the best that you can with how you’re each feeling.

IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING ELDER CARE IN OAK PARK, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE LA GRANGE. CALL TODAY: 708-551-2500.