Starting the Senior Care Conversation with Your Loved One

Having “the talk” is never easy. When you start to recognize that your senior loved one does not have adequate help around the house, it’s best to approach the situation calmly. You may initially blame yourself for not noticing sooner or for not being available more than you are. The fact of the matter is – there is simply no way for you to predict when your loved one is going to require a helping hand. Accepting that the time has come, and then working to communicate these facts to your loved one are paramount in ensuring that they are happy and healthy within the comforts of their own home.

Timing is Everything

When to have this type of conversation can be difficult – but know that “too early” is rarely the issue. At least bringing up the idea of hiring a caregiver a few days a week when you or other family members are unable to provide assistance will at least highlight the issue without making it pressing.

Ensuring that you and your senior loved one are on the same page is also beneficial to how you’ll handle the stages following the conversation: who will provide care, how will care be paid for, what type of care is needed, etc. Making sure that your loved one feels as if they still have control over their own life is pivotal in getting them on board with senior care.

Choose a Leader

There may be one friend or family member who can “never do any wrong,” in the eyes of your senior loved one. Having that family member lead the discussion is a great way to prevent your senior loved one from feeling as if they are being “attacked.”

Location

When initiating the discussion, make sure to do it in a place that is comfortable for everyone. A new atmosphere can be intimidating, and your senior loved one may sense a disturbance should you go somewhere out of the ordinary. The conversation will be made easier as long if the location is familiar and family-oriented.

Gather Information

It’s best to gather information from as many sources as possible during the initial phase of hiring a senior care service. If you have any questions about how our senior care services work or about the types of services provided by our office, please do not hesitate to reach out!