Have you thought about senior care for your parents, grandparents or aging loved ones? We know this can be the most sensitive and challenging question you may ask yourself, but it’s better that you are prepared. Read on for more details about this challenging decision.
Don’t wait!
If you are like us at Tender Home Care, we dread the day that we think about our loved one’s mortality. Our parents have always been there for us. The first time you recognized that they are slowing down must have been painful. You must have felt a gut wrenching pain to realize that one day, it will be them that needs your help. Whether it be your actual parents or any loved one who’s health is deteriorating, we tend to push these thoughts away until it is too late. We here at Tender Home Health are begging you to think about it now. It is never too late to think and plan for this eventuality.
At Tender Home Care, we have worked with thousands of families over the years. Often times families wait too late to make the necessary arrangements. In many of the cultures we encountered, putting the elderly in a home was seen as a disgrace. Thus, many families refuse to seek help. They try to take on the burden within their own family unit which puts major strain on families. Most families are ill prepared to support the needs of older adults. This causes tension within the family as families start to challenge loyalties but are burdened with their own obligations.
We are not trying advocate you to ship your loved ones to a home and forget about them. Rather, we want to educate you on the alternatives so you can get over the psychological hump of senior care. There is much less intrusive care such as Home Care where your loved ones can stay at their own homes. They would still get the minimal assistance as needed. Their independence and dignity still remain intact, and by educating them early on this, the process becomes much more smooth. Read our article on various senior care options to learn more about the options you have.
Benefits of Preparing Early
There are numerous benefits with preparing early on that many families are not aware of. First, there is the obvious financial discussions that families should be aware of. Items such as what insurance will pay for versus what will come out of pocket, will help families plan and save appropriately.
Second, by understanding the different alternatives for senior care, families will not be rushed into putting their loved ones in an environment that may be too restrictive. This may cause animosity from the loved one. On the other hand, if the type of facility is does not have all the care needed, your loved one may not have the proper care.
Finally planning early and having heart to heart conversations with your loved ones can help overcome the psychological barrier that plagues many families. The most frequent issue we see in our work is that many older adults resist senior care because of a lack of understanding of what is involved. They fear that their freedoms will be taken away. Their pride doesn’t want any help. Their fear of old age prevents them from opening up to different possibilities. By having this conversation early, you can be compassionate to their feelings and move them towards care at their pace.
Thank you, your parents would be proud
If you have read this far, then that means you are one of the few compassionate and forward looking individual who can really give your loved ones a meaningful, safe and wonderful place to live out the rest of their beautiful lives. We ask that you continue to have an open conversation, research different options and don’t wait until it’s too late.
If you have any questions about Home Care, email us at info@tenderhomehealth.com or click on our Home Care page. Or to learn more about various senior care options, you can read our senior care options article.
