Best Practices For Introducing Caregiver Services To Loved Ones

Being told something like, “We think it’s best that you have someone here daily to help you,” is extremely hard for older people for the following reasons: They may be independent, so they perceive in-home caregiving services as demeaning to their capabilities. They also don’t like the idea of a stranger coming into their home. Even seniors who have mobility issues or other special needs may view caregiving services as abandonment from their family.

However, in-home caregiving services are designed to relieve the burden off family caregivers who have careers and families of their own to care for. Often, older parents have complex needs that family members are unable to handle on their own.

In-home care is also designed to promote independent living, provide companionship for older adults, and improve their quality of life.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and you think that your loved one will benefit from caregiving services, here are a few best practices we at Always Best Care recommend for introducing caregiver services to your loved one.

Provide The Benefits Of Caregiving Services

When you first bring up the idea of caregiving services, chances are, your loved one will deny their need for it and will refuse your suggestion. Suggesting caregiving services can be perceived as you pointing out your loved one’s incapabilities. Instead, provide your loved one with all of the benefits a hired caregiver can offer. Benefits don’t point out negatives; rather they offer to fulfill a need in a person’s life. This will help your loved one respond more favorably to the idea of caregiving services.

Assure That They Will Retain Their Independence

Older adults want to be independent. Moreover, they want to know that they are still fully capable adults who make important contributions to their family and to their community. Caregivers offer a wide variety of services designed to meet seniors’ needs at all levels. You will need to make your loved one aware of this, so that he or she can be assured of their ability to retain independence.

Listen To Your Loved One

When the time comes to discuss hiring a caregiver for your loved one, explain your reasons and the benefits in a gentle manner, but also listen to your loved one. He or she will have certain needs, likes, and dislikes and you need to factor those into consideration.

Involve Them In The Hiring Process

Once your loved one agrees to hire a caregiver, sit down with them and discuss different options. We at Always Best Care will give your loved one a chance to meet with and talk to one of our caregivers before you make a hiring decision.

Take Things Slowly

Having a caregiver come to your loved one’s home can be quite awkward, especially since the caregiver is essentially a stranger. Rapport and trust take time to build. Your loved one will also need to get used to the fact that he or she can no longer do everything on his or her own and you cannot be relied on for everything.

Start by having a caregiver come once or twice a week to help. Also assure your loved one that you are never far away and that you are still there for them no matter what. This will help your loved one adapt and get used to in-home caregiving services.

We at Always Best Care are here to serve families and to improve the comfort and wellbeing of seniors. To consult with our home care coordinators and get a free quote on any care plan, you can call (262) 439-8616  or  Email [email protected] to schedule a care consultation and learn more about how non-medical in-home care can help seniors live a better-quality life.