There are various reasons seniors resist care. They might feel that accepting a hand means loss of independence and control. They may also resist because they don’t want to be a burden to anyone. In reality though, in the golden years, an aging person’s body becomes frail and the need for Winnipeg home care becomes more apparent. But how can you help your senior loved one understand this? How do you overcome their resistance to care?
So that it’s easier for you and your loved one to converse, choose a time when both of you are relaxed. You need to listen closely to them so you can accurately understand their reasons for not wanting help. If your loved one feels having someone care for them will reduce their independence, you can explain to them the different forms of home care and why it doesn’t mean a loss of control.
You can emphasize that they’ll only get the help they are comfortable with. Explain to the elder that accepting help serves to increase their self-sufficiency and allow them to live more independently. If they don’t like the idea of having someone around, let them know that it could just be for a short trial period and that they can select a caregiver they feel comfortable with. You can always conduct a few interviews until the senior settles for one they like.
You should let the caregiver know about your loved one’s likes and dislikes. It’s also important to try and match the senior person’s personality with the caregiver’s so they don’t end up clashing. Also, instead of starting with a full-time in-house caregiver, start slowly and add more hours as needed. Of course this also depends on the elder’s need for help.
The decision to hire home care for a senior citizen is a huge step. If you want less friction, don’t exclude the senior from decision making. Exclusion will only make the elder feel more hopeless and this can be painful for them and even breed rebelliousness. The best advice is to always involve the senior person in the solution-finding process as much as possible. As every good negotiator knows, “we” is a powerful word, so use it in this conversation.
The issue of cost may be a cause for resistance so you can’t leave this aside. Assure the senior that hiring help will not be a financial burden to you. Explain to them about the financial plan you have in place. If they have coverage or other funding, share that information to ease the senior’s worries. You can also explain to them that knowing they have home care will help you feel more relaxed about their welfare when you’re away or at work.
If you put yourself in the senior person’s shoes, you’ll understand why they may resist care. Dealing with the new changes that come with age and having to come to terms with some loss of independence is difficult. Addressing your elder’s points of resistance one by one will help you reduce their anxiety and open them up to the benefits of professional home care.
