It can be challenging to tell when our parents need help. After all, they’re the ones who raised us – they must know how to take care of themselves, right? But as our parents age, they may need more assistance than we realized, and the best way to ensure that your aging loved ones are comfortable and safe is to have a face-to-face conversation before they’ve progressed to that point that you’re worried to leave them.
So how do you broach the subject? Tonya Thomas, certified dementia and Alzheimer’s caregiver at Hands at Home Care Services, recommends discussing caregiving options early before such assistance is needed. Ask, “where do you see yourself if you can’t figure out what medicine to take or can’t shower by yourself?” Then you can suggest options and what may be best for them. However, that conversation means that you, as the potential caregiver or mediator between a caregiver or facility, need to be aware of the status of your aging loved one.
That initial conversation is the first step to being proactive with the health and care of your loved ones but requires additional monitoring. Again, the best way to accomplish this is to see the signs of decline personally. Your parent will shy away from revealing details, such as, “I forgot to take my medicine,” or “I’m not bathing.” Because if they let you know – as well-meaning as you may be, that they’re struggling, they could lose their independence.
The best way to overcome objections is by stressing that they are not alone. You can also offer to be there with them as they transition into needing more assistance. If your parent is resistant, it may be helpful to have an intermediary – such as a doctor – help start the conversation.
For many Vermont seniors, aging at home is the best option. Those taken from their home and the connections to their past – including you and your children, their neighbors with the perfect hedges and lilacs, and even that dog across the street that barks nonstop with every leaf that passes by… often experience trauma. Because that’s all they’ve known for so long. When moved, they can feel abandoned by the people they love most and often don’t flourish or prosper.’
Tanya says, “when you take somebody that is in their home for 40 or 50 years and take that away…you might as well have taken their life because that’s all they know.”
At Hands at Home, we believe that each senior should have the opportunity to age in their home and community with dignity. Our team is dedicated to helping seniors, and their families maintain their independence while providing the support they need.
We provide a wide range of services, including:
- Personal care, including bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Meal preparation
- Medication management
- Transportation to doctor’s appointments and other errands
- Companionship and social activities
- Maintaining continence, including assistance with toileting and cleaning
- House cleaning
- Shopping
- Reading and correspondence
We also offer specialized services, such as:
- Memory care, including more specialized Alzheimer’s or dementia care
- Respite care to provide relief for caregivers
- Hospice care to support those nearing the end of life
- Companion Care with an emphasis on socialization and community engagement
- 24 Hour Care
- Live-In Care
If you or a loved one needs home care, please get in touch with us today. We would be happy to discuss your needs and see how we can help.
Learn More: https://handsathomecareservices.com/contact/
