Senior Care News

Help! My Elderly Mom Doesn’t Want Senior Care

Senior Care in Linden NJ: When Mom Doesn't Want Care
Senior Care in Linden NJ: When Mom Doesn't Want Care

It’s no surprise that many elderly adults fight to hold onto their independence, even as they face numerous challenges in caring for themselves and their home. For many aging adults, however, it’s inevitable that they start to struggle with managing daily tasks and self-care activities. Not only do they put their health and welfare at risk, but by not accepting help, seniors place a lot of stress and frustration on their family members as well.

Senior Care in Linden NJ: When Mom Doesn't Want Care
Senior Care in Linden NJ: When Mom Doesn’t Want Care

Family caregivers may want to incorporate senior care assistance right away and are surprised when their aging relative resists. When seniors aren’t ready to have in-home help but they really do need it, family members need to persuade them. Convincing an elderly relative that they do need assistance is one of the most difficult things a family caregiver has to do, but it’s best for their health and safety.

Family members need to understand where their elderly relative is coming from when it comes to accepting senior care assistance. Faced with declining health, many seniors fear that they will lose their independence. They may be full of pride and hate to ask for help, thinking that it is a sign of weakness. Many elderly adults worry that their family members will take over their lives, sell their home, and send them off to a long-term facility. Still others are apprehensive about total strangers coming into their home and dealing with them on a personal level. Once family members know of some of the fears and worries that their elderly loved ones have, they can work to alleviate their concerns.

Sometimes, elderly family members can be convinced to give senior care help a try when they realize the stress they are causing their own loved ones. If family members live far away or work full time and can’t help their elderly relative, they will worry constantly. Many seniors don’t want to be a burden to their family or cause them stress. If they think that their adult children or other relatives are constantly wondering if they made it to a doctor’s appointment, had no food that day, or suffered a fall, they may relent and agree to senior care assistance.

Unfortunately, sometimes it takes something serious to convince an elderly person that they do in fact need a home care aide. It may be the result of a fall or an accident that shows them they are struggling. It could also be because they aren’t taking good care of themselves, such as not cooking or bathing infrequently. When an elderly person is confronted with their physical or mental shortcomings, it may be enough to start conversations about senior care assistance.

There’s no easy way to convince an elderly person to accept in-home assistance. All family caregivers can do is to try their best to be positive and document any issues they see to build a case for bringing in home care aides someday.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring senior care in Linden, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299. Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.

 

Source:

https://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-07-2013/caregiving-aging-parents-jacobs.html

Robert D'Arienzo

Recent Posts

Categories

Contact Us About Home Care

Skip to content