As the years go by, your aging loved ones may need more care than they used to. Every person has unique needs. That’s why it’s important to start talking to your aging loved ones about their future health early and often. Reversing roles with someone who has traditionally been your caregiver isn’t easy. Use the following tips compiled by the team at Essential Quality Care to start talking to your aging loved ones about their changing care needs.
Before we give you tips on how to have tough conversations, first you have to know which topics are necessary to discuss.
- Physical Health: Ask about changes in agility, sleep habits, medication and doctors’ appointments. This will probably need to be an open-ended conversation.
- Mental Health: The goal of this conversation is to notice confusion, scaredness, forgetfulness or boredom so that you can help lessen the weight of changing emotions.
- Financial: Ask about day to day expenses as well as your loved one’s will or trust. Bringing in a trusted financial professional can be beneficial for both you and your loved one.
- Living Arrangements: Find out where your parents would like to live if their health and abilities change. It’s important to be openminded and keep an ongoing conversation about this topic.
- Long-term Care: Your aging loved one may not always be able to care for themselves. This is an especially difficult topic to discuss. Find passionate home care professionals who can help you create a custom care plan. Consider scheduling a free consultation with Essential Quality Care.
Now that you know you’re covering the necessary topics, here are some tips to help the conversations go as smoothly as possible.
- Schedule Time
Plan to have the conversation ahead of time. Make sure the day you choose is free of distractions and provides a calm, adequate timeframe.
- Be Patient
Most likely you’ll need to have these conversations many times. If the first one doesn’t accomplish it all, there’s no need to worry.
- Have Empathy
Change is not easy to cope with in any situation. Be compassionate with the language you use when talking to your aging loved ones. The reality of their own future health may be especially difficult to address.
- Include Others
Be open with your family members, care professionals, financial planners and friends about the conversations you have. Inviting family, trusted professionals and friends to take part in these conversations will not only remove some pressure from you, it will allow your loved ones to be surrounded by support.
- Listen Carefully
Listen to your aging parent during these difficult conversations. It’s easy to get lost in quick problem solving without taking the time to hear about their fears, hopes and goals moving forward.
Essential Quality Care is committed to putting our clients and their families first. We hope the tips above help you start tough but necessary conversations with aging loved ones. If you decide that your aging parent needs in-home caregiving, contact us for a free consultation. Our senior caregiving services will give you peace of mind that your loved ones have the care they deserve. With each interaction, we want you to feel like family.
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