The first time you bring up home care services with your aging adult, she may not be excited about the idea. You may know what they can do for you and your elderly family member, but that doesn’t mean that she’s up to speed on why this is a good solution. Finding a balance with home care services can be tricky, but it’s worth giving it a try.
Work out a Schedule
If your senior needs around the clock care, you’ve likely already found a solution that works for her situation. So chances are very good that if you and your senior come up with a schedule for home care providers that encompasses only a couple of hours a week or a few afternoons a week, you’ll both be getting what you need.
Give it a Trial Go
It’s okay if you or your elderly family member is feeling a little shy about committing. Set an expectation that you’ll give elderly care a trial run. That could mean that you’ll stick with it for a certain amount of time, like a week at a time, or it might mean that you’ll commit to a specific number of visits. However you decide to structure your trial is not as important as giving that trial period your full support.
Get Specific about Tasks
Talk with your elderly family member about what types of help she is interested in receiving. You probably also have some ideas about the type of help that you require, as well. Some of the tasks that you both might want to consider getting help with could include:
- Light housekeeping
- Shopping and errand running
- Transportation help
- Companionship
- Personal care tasks
Knowing what each of you expects out of the experience helps you to give the trial run the best chance that you possibly can.
Take the Time to Talk about It
Set aside some time to talk with your elderly family member about how she feels about this new experience. Share how you’re feeling, too. This is a great time for you two to talk about what’s working, what isn’t, and how you can adjust so that the situation is more beneficial for both of you.
When you and your elderly family member can look at this as a partnership, you might find it easier to work together to find the right home care fit for your situation. Keeping your senior involved in the process empowers her and shows her that you value what she has to say.
