Helping Your Senior to Accept Help

Posted in Elder Care in Enterprise AL, Home Care in Enterprise AL |

June 12, 2020

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Part of growing older is that unfortunately, your senior is going to need some help. That can be a tough truth to swallow, though. In fact, your elderly family member may be very against having help from outside sources at all.

 

Home Care in Enterprise AL: Senior Accepting Help

Home Care in Enterprise AL: Senior Accepting Help

 

Pay Attention to How You’re Phrasing Things

Sometimes it’s all in how you say something that makes the biggest difference. For your senior, hearing that she should accept more help or that she has to let someone come in and help her can feel as if she’s losing control over parts of her life. Or it can feel as if you no longer trust her to take care of herself. When you’re careful with your phrasing, you can help to alleviate some of those concerns.

 

Listen to Your Senior’s Thoughts and Opinions

It’s crucial for you to listen to your senior’s thoughts and feelings on this topic. If she feels like you’re ignoring her or glossing over what she’s telling you, that’s going to compound the problems. You’re going to need to really listen and show her that you understand. That’s going to go a lot farther.

 

Make This an Easy Transition

When you bring elder care providers in to help, do what you can to make that a slow and easy transition. Stay there while elder care providers are there. Start out with visits every couple of weeks at first. Maybe keep the visits themselves short as well.

 

Put a Time Limit on Things

Something else that you can do is to set a time limit for the entire experience. For example, at the front end, you might tell your elderly family member that this is something you’ll both can try out for the next six months. That helps her to see that there is an end date, and if she wants to stick with that, you can when that time comes.

 

Keep the Conversation Positive

When you do talk about how elder care services are going for your senior, do what you can to remain positive about the situation. She may still have some negative feelings about the experience, but if you follow that mood you may not be able to win her over even if she does need the help.

It’s difficult for some people to accept that they need help now. If your elderly family member has always been fiercely independent, it’s going to take some time for her to adjust. Be there for her as she finally accepts and learns to enjoy having some extra assistance.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Enterprise, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

What Do You Need to Remember about Being a Caregiver?

Posted in Caregiver in Enterprise AL, Home Care in Enterprise AL, Senior Care in Enterprise AL, Senior Health |

June 19, 2018

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There might seem to be a lot of rules about being a caregiver, but they’re more guidelines for helping yourself and your elderly family member to have the best experience possible.

 

Home Care in Enterprise AL: Caregiver Efficiency

Home Care in Enterprise AL: Caregiver Efficiency

 

Accepting Your Role as a Caregiver Is Powerful

Being a caregiver is a big responsibility. It may also be one that you were thrust into without much warning or without being asked. That can leave you feeling resentful, even if you’re trying your best to be a good caregiver. Learning to accept this role, from the heart and truly, can be a turning point for you. It’s a chance to make a real choice.

 

Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Good Sleep

There are a lot of situations that feel entirely impossible until you’ve slept on it. When you’re a caregiver, you very often aren’t giving yourself the time and the space you need in order to get the sleep that you need. Try getting a good night of sleep for just one night and see what happens.

 

Give Yourself Grace

You’re going to mess up. If you go ahead and get that out of the way at the very beginning, it can be easier to accept later. There is no such thing as a perfect caregiver and if you’re shooting for perfection, you’re going to be very disappointed. Give yourself the same grace that you would give to someone else.

 

Remember There Are Professionals Who Can Help

You don’t have to do everything alone. If your senior’s home is not set up in a way that is functional for her, there are professional organizers who specialize in elderly concerns. If you’re overwhelmed with an ever-growing task list, then home care providers can lighten that load. There are always professional helpers available if you look for them.

 

Practice Forgiveness

Caregiving is not for the faint of heart. Chances are very good that you have a long relationship with your care recipient and that things weren’t always rosy. Do what you can to forgive, when it makes sense to do so. You’re going to need the grace of that forgiveness to help with some of the harder times along your caregiving journey.

If you’re still having trouble with the overwhelming aspects of being a caregiver, it might be time to reach out to a counselor or a therapist who can help. There’s no shame in this and you can learn how to accept your responsibilities as a caregiver much more readily.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Enterprise, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.