Elderly Assistance in El Cajon and Why They May Refuse Help

As your loved one grows older, there will likely come a time when you need to discuss their options for elderly assistance in El Cajon or East and South San Diego County. But what if they don't want to talk about it? At Visiting Angels^® El Cajon, we know that many people can be resistant to the idea of getting help. 

Here are a few reasons that might be happening:

• Fear. Asking for help can feel like giving up control, especially for seniors who are struggling with the challenges of aging. Your loved one may worry that they might get less and less choice over their own decision and well-being over time, making them fearful of elderly assistance.
• Shame. It's hard to learn that simple day-to-day tasks are suddenly difficult or impossible. Many of the difficulties of aging, such as incontinence or difficulty with mobility, come with plenty of baggage. Your loved one may feel embarrassed that they can't complete these tasks on their own.
• Uncertainty. For some family members, it may simply be a matter of not realizing how bad it's gotten. This is especially common for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer's, or related conditions. Your loved one may not realize how much they've fallen behind on eating, cleaning, hygiene, or related concerns.

3 Strategies For Approaching Elderly Assistance in El Cajon

If you're worried about your loved one, here are three strategies we recommend for approaching the topic of elderly assistance — and how Visiting Angels El Cajon can help: 

• Give them a chance to talk. Your loved one may not have had the chance to express some of their fears about getting home care assistance. Having a conversation can give them the chance to air their questions. For seniors, we can set up an in-home consultation to discuss these in detail.
• Let them make the choice. It can be nerve-wracking for your loved one to feel like they're not in control of their own well-being. It's a good idea to research their options, but leave them with the final choice. With Visiting Angels El Cajon, they'll get input on their care and even their caregiver. 
• Ease them into it. If it's possible, start your loved one off with one weekly visit from their caregiver. That gives your family member a chance to get familiar with receiving help, and to get to know their caregiver. Visiting Angels El Cajon can quickly or gradually update their care schedule at any point, so they always have support at their time of need.

Together, we can set up elderly assistance for your family member. Contact Visiting Angels El Cajon to learn more about how we can help.