Over time, seniors get to a point where they need some more help. Some seniors may even need a lot more help with daily tasks that used to be easy for them to manage on their own. But accepting home care assistance is a different story. The desire to remain independent and not wanting to be a burden to anyone else can be strong enough that seniors resist extra help. Here are some strategies that can help.

Focus on What Home Care Can Do

To start, it can be a good idea to sit down with seniors and share with them what exactly elder care services can do for them. Often seniors aren’t sure what home care assistance is all about, and that is what contributes to the resistance. Some of the aspects to highlight include help with household tasks, assistance with meal preparation, transportation help, and help with safety issues.

Talk About the Resistance

Having some open and honest conversations about the resistance and why it’s there can also help. Family caregivers may need to focus on listening more than sharing at this stage, because seniors may be less resistant when they feel heard. This helps get to the root of the resistance.

Use “We” Statements Instead of “You” Statements

When family caregivers use “you” statements, it can feel to aging adults as if they’re being confronted or told what to do. It’s important to support autonomy throughout this process, which means that using “we” statements can get a better reaction. This can be a partnership instead.

Tackle the Urgent Issues First

It’s vital to address the urgent and most pressing concerns first. That means identifying issues that are causing problems, like tripping hazards and fall risks, and then putting a plan together to resolve them. Home care assistance can be invaluable in helping families to do this and it’s a great way for seniors to see how this type of help makes a difference for them.

Work on Ways to Bolster Independence

If a big part of the resistance is about maintaining independence, seniors need to understand how elder care can help them to become more independent. Seniors can participate in creating their care plans, having direct involvement in their routines and expressing preferences. Caregivers are there to offer support, not to take over the situation.

Set Some Timeframe Boundaries to Try Home Care Assistance

When seniors understand that they’re in charge of what’s happening, some resistance starts to melt away. Setting some timeframe boundaries, like with a trial period for senior care services, is just one way to do this. Putting together a calendar and marking out what days and times home care assistance will be there can really help seniors to feel less overwhelmed about the changes they’re facing.

By making it easier to accept home care assistance, family caregivers are able to put structured support in place for the seniors they love. This helps seniors to be safer, healthier, and happier while keeping their quality of life as high as possible.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in Potomac, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

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Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

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