Discussing Home Health Care in Springfield Missouri with Your Loved One
It’s hard for many people to accept they need extra help around their home. It’s also hard for people to talk to their parents about concerns with the parent living home alone. You’ll want to help them continue to be independent and avoid interfering in their life, but there are issues that will not go away over time. Instead, you’ll want to be proactive with these difficult topics, working with your siblings and your loved one to talk with your parent about needing extra help at home.
Create a Plan for Moving Forward
It’s possible your parent will not be willing to accept needing help from a home health care agency in Springfield Missouri or a caregiver from the beginning. It’s best to have a plan. Make sure you let them know if their health or safety is a concern. You may want to involve others, such as their physician or a clergy member, as well as get a free consultation from Visiting Angels for caregiver services. It’s a good idea to have a family meeting without your loved one first so everyone is on the same page.
Get the Family Together for Discussions
Once you have a plan in place, set up a family meeting to start discussing the care your loved one wants or needs. Remember that they’re the one who should be making the decisions (unless there is a very serious health concern they’re disregarding). This meeting should be supportive and should help to convince them to start thinking about home health agencies or having a caregiver help them. Let them delay the discussions for a while if needed. They might need some time to think about it.
These meetings can be very emotionally-charged and must be handled cautiously. When having a discussion with your parent, remember they are the focus of all discussions. Make sure your opinions are voiced to emphasize them as your recommendations with a clear topic rather than facts. Be respectful of your loved one’s opinions as well and understand that you may need to have several conversations. Consider the option of a free in-home consultation from Visiting Angels to help them decide.
What to Do from This Point On
After the first meeting, suggest making an appointment with their physician for a thorough evaluation. This can help them decide if they need to contact a home health aide in Springfield Missouri or a caregiver in Springfield Missouri through Visiting Angels. Avoid constantly discussing these issues with your loved one. Eventually, most people will realize they cannot provide for themselves the way they used to. Be direct about having a caregiver meet with them to see what the agency can do for them and let them know they are still in control.
Remember to stay positive and treat them as an equal. Your job is to help them make the decision to seek extra help. Contact Visiting Angels today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation with a caregiver to get help discussing this topic with your parent or to show them how a caregiver can help.