Talking to your elderly parent about homecare

Broaching the subject of homecare with your elderly parent can be a difficult one, particularly if they are very independent. Most of us grow up viewing our parents as heroes who take care of your every need – it can be especially hard to see them deteriorate, and the possibility that they may need help can be a difficult pill to swallow.

You may have noticed that your elderly parent needs help. You can take a look at our blog ‘How to recognise if your elderly parent needs care at home.’ for further information or if you’re not sure. Talking to them can make it a lot easier and for you to work out if you are on the same page. Growing old is a looming reality for everyone, and we realise that needing help is likely to be a natural part of this process.

Below are some tips to ensure the best possible outcome of talking with your parents about homecare:

Choose your moment

Although your realisation may be apparent, this doesn’t mean that your parent has had this same realisation. You must approach the subject at the right time and not just dive straight in! You may be tempted to rush the conversation and get it out of the way, but this may cause fear and anxiety for you both, especially if the conversation doesn’t go how you would expect it to. Take your time and figure out what you would like to say.

Be reassuring

Again, fearing the loss of independence, dignity, financial worries and the thought of going into a care home will be at the front of their minds. You should reassure them that this is not your intention, and this fear is often misguided as they may not know that homecare is a possibility. There are many options available however homecare often means the least disruption for your loved one, and they are likely to feel the most comfortable in their own home.

Make it about others

Rather than it being about them, you can make sure they know that you would be much happier knowing that they were safe and that they have someone to help them out. If you have both parents that are living together and both need help, you can mention that this could mean they can spend more quality time together if you have some help, and they may be willing to do it for the sake of their spouse.

Plan

You should first do some research and decide what kind of help you think they need, if you bring it up with them before you have done this, it may become scary if you start discussing all of the options that are available. If you can decide on a specific area of their life that needs to be improved, this may help you to decide the kind of care that they need.

Focus on the positives

You should focus on pointing out the positives of the situation and focus on establishing a viable care plan. A homecarer at Kare Plus Redbridge can help with household chores, facilitate outings and is there to provide a source of companionship. 

If you and your parents would like more information regarding homecare at Kare Plus Redbridge, please contact us via Facebook or call 0207 1480656