Collaborating with Your Parent’s Caregiver
When an aging parent needs more help at home than an adult child can provide, the best solution that doesn’t require a move to a senior care facility is to partner with a senior home care company. Senior home care companies, such as Visiting Angels Cape Coral North Fort Myers, allow seniors to remain in the comfort of their own home, while giving families peace of mind knowing their aging loved one isn’t lonely, bored, or unsafe. Ideally, this relationship between the senior, senior’s family, and caregiver becomes collaborative, meaning that everyone works together to enrich the senior’s life.
Yet, at times, the caregiver/family relationship can present challenges. The senior may have hesitations bringing a stranger into their home to provide assistance with intimate tasks, such as toileting or bathing, so they ask their family to be present when their caregiver arrives. Families may expect more from the caregiver than what they originally agreed to, or they may continue to do tasks that the caregiver was assigned. While it takes time to adjust to a new routine, it’s important the families strive to work jointly with their parent’s caregiver. This means that families may need to take a step back so that the senior client/caregiver relationship can thrive. If you’re an adult child who has recently hired senior home care services for your aging parents, here are a few tips on how to collaborate with their caregiver.
Communicate
The first way to collaborate with your parent’s caregiver is to communicate with them. This might seem obvious, but often families may forget to keep their parent’s caregiver in the loop. Families may also have unrealistic expectations from their parent’s caregiver. Communication is key from the very beginning. Remember that your parent’s caregiver genuinely wants to provide the best care and can only do so if they have all the necessary information. Remember to communicate any changes that your parent’s doctor may have made, vacations you plan to take, or other relevant information that may impact care provided by your parent’s caregiver.
Listen
Just as it’s important to communicate with your parent’s caregiver, it’s also important to listen to them. Caregivers are trained to pick up on changes that family members may not notice because they’re too close or too familiar. Think of your parent’s caregiver as another set of eyes and ears. Most caregivers visit clients weekly, giving them a different perspective than family members who visit daily or those who cannot visit regularly because they live far away. If your parent’s caregiver has noticed a change in your parent, take time to listen to their concern. Know that they aren’t trying to add additional care charges. They have your parent’s best interest at heart and want to keep you informed.
Take a Step Back
Another way to collaborate with your parent’s caregiver is to take a step back and let the caregiver do their job. Sure, your parent may want you to be present for the first couple visits. If you choose to visit while your parent’s caregiver is present, visit at their daughter or son, and not as a family caregiver. Sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with your mom or dad. Engage in conversation instead of doing the laundry. Bring a book to read while your parent receives help with a shower. Then, choose to visit your parent on non-caregiver days so that your parent can form a companionship with their caregiver. Use those days to run errands, do something just for you, or relax at home.
Let Your Parent Take Charge
Finally, it’s important that adult children let their parents take charge of the client/caregiver relationship. What may be important to the family member may not be so important to the senior. Likewise, what a family member perceives as their parent being overdramatic may only hinder the client/caregiver relationship. When possible, let your parent take the responsibility of advocating for themselves. Letting them lead the relationship lets them feel dignified and respected. It also fosters a healthier client/caregiver relationship.
If you are an adult child and has noticed that your aging parents need more help around the home, know that Visiting Angels Cape Coral North Fort Myers is here for you. We offer a wide variety of senior home care services that help seniors stay safe and independent where they feel most comfortable, at home. Our caregivers are well-vetted and professional, giving you the confidence you need to take that first in your journey into senior home care. Getting started is as easy as contacting us through our website or by calling 239-226-1620. We look forward to collaborating with you.