Why Respect is Important When Providing Senior Care in Westminster, CO and Surrounding Areas
Visiting Angels treats clients in Westminster, Broomfield, Northglenn and surrounding areas in Colorado with dignity and respect when providing senior care
The role reversal that comes with taking care of your elderly loved one can be emotional and complicated. As a family caregiver, you may be wearing several hats such as nurse, chauffer and housekeeper—explaining medical instructions, providing transportation and helping with home maintenance. Although you’re the child in the relationship, you may be caring for the parent who once took care of you.
Both the child and parents are thrust into new roles, and the stress can be tremendous. Just yesterday your parents were jumping in the car to run errands or hopping on a flight to a tropical vacation. Their world is now a lot smaller. They may have given up driving privileges or may be using a cane or walker. Cognitive issues may be lessening their independence. They may have forfeited their checkbook or hired help to mow the lawn.
It’s important to remember—they’re still the same people inside, even with their new challenges.
Five Respectful Approaches to Senior Care
At Visiting Angels Westminster, we’ve gathered five senior care approaches to help family caregivers engage with their loved ones in a respectful way.
- Subtly assist. Seniors want to feel as independent as possible. Although they may need assistance stepping over a curb, they don’t want to feel dependent. Offer help with a comment like, “This curb looks slippery, let’s hang onto one another!” If you discreetly offer help, they won’t feel as needy.
- Listen. The world spins quickly, and they may not be current with trending topics. They may instead wish to regale you with tales from their younger years. Let them. You may know the stories by heart, but if sharing brings joy, indulge them.
- Defer to them. It’s easy for seniors to get lost in the conversations whizzing around them. Take opportunities to ask them what they think or encourage them to share a story. Give them center stage to help them feel connected to family and the world around them.
- Offer your time. Quality time is precious. You may have spent several hours at a doctor’s appointment but make time to pick up dinner or enjoy a movie together. Their days are often full of maintenance and medical tasks, so gifting your time to make new memories is priceless.
- Empathize. Picture yourself in forty years. How do you want to be treated? Try to understand what this new chapter is like for seniors. You want the best for your loved ones, but it’s challenging with your own busy life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, call on a professional home care agency like Visiting Angels Westminster for help.
At Visiting Angels Westminster, we are here to support you and your family with personalized in-home senior care services. Our professional caregivers can handle personal care and household tasks, so you can spend time together and create new memories with your elderly loved one.
To learn more about the benefits of providing dignified and respectful senior care, contact Visiting Angels Westminster at 303-625-7623.