Starting Home Care: What to do When Family Is in Denial
When a family member refuses the need for parents starting home care, we have tips to help.
Once you realize that an aging loved one could benefit from starting home care services, it’s not uncommon for the aging loved one to be resistant to the idea. After all, acknowledging the need for assistance is not easy, especially for an individual who values their privacy and independence. However, it gets more challenging when another family member is the one in denial about starting home care. When you’ve reached an impasse within your family in regards to the need for senior care, there’s one very likely culprit to consider: denial.
Why Would a Family Member Resist Starting Home Care?
Many people use denial as a coping mechanism to fight against the feeling of helplessness or concern about an impending change. Your family member may feel much more comfortable sticking their head into the sand in order to maintain status quo. Or, they may not be as knowledgeable about the day-to-day care of the senior as you are, so they are not seeing the same concerns.
Whatever the reason may be for the family member denying the idea of starting home care, there are many strategies that may help you see eye to eye and ensure the individual you both love receives the necessary support and care.
1. Educate. Instead of focusing on arguing your own points, use reliable resources to support your position. Research the details regarding the progression of a certain health condition the older adult is managing. Learn together about the challenges of growing older, the risks of senior falls, when it might be time to hand over the car keys, etc., and utilize that education as the jumping-off point for a conversation about how to ensure comfort and safety for the senior.
2. Listen. Communication doesn’t only work one way. Take the time to listen just as much, if not more, than you’re getting your own opinions across. Recognize and validate the person’s feelings. Try to the very best of your ability to keep the discussion calm and on an even keel, avoiding sarcasm, anger, and comments you could later regret.
3. Reinforce. Bring in a professional third party to reinforce the advantages of home care services in your specific situation. Make a scheduled appointment to talk to the senior’s doctor together. Sometimes, hearing firsthand information from a healthcare expert is all that is needed to help a family member in denial change their viewpoint.
Keep in mind that when starting home care, it could be helpful to start small and gradually build up to more services over time. For example, Responsive Home Care can begin with light housekeeping, preparing meals, and running errands initially. As the caregiver and senior form a bond of trust and companionship and the advantages of home care become more apparent, it is then very easy to add in more hours or extra care tasks, such as help with bathing and personal care needs.
When your family is on one accord about starting home care, we are here to consult with you and your family about options and to answer any questions you might have. We are available to address any concerns a family member is feeling about starting home care services. We start with a complimentary consultation, right in the comfort of home. Additionally, our service includes an online family care portal where family members can access care updates and a list of completed care tasks for each day.
If you need home care services, contact Responsive Home Care online or at (954) 486-6440 any time to learn more about how our expert caregivers can help in your area.
