Whether your senior parent or loved one is new to the idea of having professionally trained and hired caregivers coming into their home, or they are in the middle of a transition from a regular caregiver to a brand new one, there are ways that you can help with your senior and the caregiver to have a better transition.
It can be tough for some seniors to support the idea of someone new coming into their home, especially if senior care is something they are still adjusting to need. For seniors who have mobility or other issues preventing them from being independent and requiring help with personal tasks such as bathing, showering, and grooming, it can be an extra sensitive topic as they get used to the idea of accepting help for things so private.
1. Introduce them as a friend.
Introducing the new caregiver as a friend of yours will help to build trust and show your senior parent or loved one that they can be more accepting of the new person. This may take some time so go slow and don’t be too frustrated if your senior takes a little time to warm up to the new person.
2. Be specific about what their role is.
Let your senior know exactly what the caregivers are there to do and how long and what times they will be in the home help. Many times, seniors that struggle to accept the help of professionals do so because of their fear of the unknown; they aren’t sure exactly what the caregiver’s role is or how long they will be in their space. Being open about the expectations will help your seniors feel like they are included and educated on the process and also let them know what they can expect and what the caregivers are not there to do as well.
3. Communicate clearly and be proactive.
Make sure to have healthy communication practices between yourself and the caregivers, as well as between the caregivers and your senior. Find a way that everyone can be on the same page with a calendar or other notification system so that you can always know what the caregiver needs and they can make sure that they are doing the things that you hired them to do. If there are concerns that you have about your senior or any specific quirks or behaviors the caregivers need to be made aware of, be proactive about what they might expect so there are no surprises.
4. Let your senior have a say.
For some seniors, they may have a hard time with feeling like they have lost all control over their once very much independent lives. Giving your senior some choices so that they can feel like they have some control or say in their care can go a long way in helping them to accept not only the idea of needing senior care help but with building a relationship with their caregivers as well.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in San Mateo, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
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