Getting the Whole Family to Agree on the Best Home Care Solutions for a Loved One
Build family consensus on professional care for your aging loved one in Eldersburg, MD by focusing on their health and well-being
You may have come to the realization that your senior loved one in Eldersburg needs more and more help with daily activities and that their capability to remain independent is slowly spiraling down. In your opinion, it would be best if the family made arrangements to hire a professional caregiver that can help your parent maintain her or his quality of life. However, your sibling or other family members are reluctant to opt for professional home care solutions. Maybe your sister doesn’t think Mom or Dad needs help or your brother says it would be a waste of money.
Don’t let this surprise you. Many families often disagree on the course of action when there is a family crisis involving an aging parent. The following methods can help you build a family consensus and settle on viable home care solutions that would be best for your loved one and the whole family.
Keep the Conversation About the Parent
When you start considering various care options for Mom or Dad, don’t let the conversation deteriorate into retelling old family stories or discussing who was the favorite child. If this happens, steer the conversation back to home care solutions. Make sure everybody acknowledges this shouldn’t be about you, them or family anecdotes - but about helping your loved one maintain their quality of life.
Keep a Journal of Your Loved One’s Condition
It seems that physical distance is often the main reason behind siblings having different ideas on their parent’s well-being. When a sibling lives out of town or out of state, they don’t get to see Mom or Dad too often and therefore have no idea about the problems they face each day. Those living nearer can visit more frequently and provide a better insight. However, proximity has seldom won a family argument.
To help you build a consensus, consider keeping a journal on your parent’s routines, activities, health, and changing needs. A journal can help when it is time to make a case for hiring professional assistance.
Avoid One-On-Ones with Mom or Dad
When you need to reach a family consensus, it is very important that siblings take a unified approach when discussing home care solutions with the parent. This means you should avoid having one-on-one conversations with Mom or Dad. Having separate discussions over such an important matter can elicit feelings of distrust, favoritism, and even alienation.
The reality of the situation is that families will have different opinions. Family members will often argue over important decisions - and that’s nothing unusual. Try to keep the conversation as objective as possible, stick to the facts, keep tabs on your parent, and do a little research on what paying for home care services would look like. This will enable you to have a much more productive conversation and agree on what’s best for Mom or Dad.
Contact Visiting Angels in Eldersburg, MD to learn more about our professional home care solutions.