Starting a new home health care arrangement for your aging parent should be an exciting time. This begins a time of better health, safety, independence, and fulfillment for your aging parent, and less stress and greater confidence for you as their caregiver.
The highly customized services of this home health care provider can help your parents live their best life no matter what types of challenges and limitations they are facing. As you are getting ready to head into this care arrangement, it is important to take the time to prepare your senior for their new lifestyle. This will make the transition smoother and ensure your parent starts experiencing the tremendous benefits as soon as possible.
Some ways you can prepare your parent to start home care include:
- Reassure them that you are there for them and that this arrangement does not mean you don’t want to be a part of their life or will not be caring for them any longer.
- Get their home as organized as possible so it is easier for the care provider to become accustomed to the surroundings and give your senior the care they need. Consider adding labels to cabinets, drawers, and containers throughout the home to make it easier to find necessities in the first few days of care.
- Work with your parent to create a list of all the information the care provider might need as they are getting to know your senior. A schedule of their usual day, a list of their likes and dislikes, notes of any allergies, contact information for their doctors and for you, and other such personal information can be exceptionally helpful for the care provider.
- Talk to your senior about the purpose of the care provider and what they are there to do. Remind them of tasks the care provider will not be handling for them and those that the care provider will do. Discourage them from resisting the care and continuing to rely on you for tasks the care provider can fulfill. Remind them that it may take getting used to, but the more they rely on the care from their provider, the faster they will get accustomed to it, and the easier the situation will be for everyone.
Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your senior when you are a family caregiver. It is easy to overlook your own needs or put them aside in order to give yourself more time to handle needs for your senior, your children, or others. This can leave you experiencing stress, exhaustion, and diminished effectiveness in your care role.
Bringing home health care into your care approach is an exceptional way to ensure your parent is getting all the care they need while also giving you the time to focus on your own needs as well. An in-home senior care services provider gives completely customized services, which means your parent can stay safe and healthy while also pursuing more independence and fulfillment as they age in place.
