Seniors face so many physical, emotional, and mental challenges as they continue to age. Home care assistance is an incredibly valuable resource that offers support for seniors while also helping family caregivers stay on top of increasing responsibilities and tasks. With that in mind, why do seniors sometimes resist that help? There are lots of reasons for that decision and it’s important for families to understand what’s really going on.
Privacy Concerns
It is absolutely normal for seniors to be uncomfortable with senior care help. Some of the tasks are simple, like laundry help or meal preparation assistance. Other tasks seniors might need help with could be more embarrassing, though, like bathing. The idea of having someone in their personal space can be an odd feeling. Family caregivers can work around this by reassuring their family members that elder care providers are there to help, not to poke into their lives.
Worries Over Losing Control
Seniors who have been independent for a long time may fear that they’ll lose control over their lives. Independence is incredibly important for most seniors, and home care assistance can help them to preserve it. Home care providers are there to empower seniors, not take control from them. Families can talk about what seniors are willing to have help with and what they want to do in the event they do want more help.
Uncertainty About Home Care Assistance
When seniors don’t know a lot about elder care services and how they work, they may have a lot of uncertainty about accepting help. Learning more about home care assistance and what it does can help a lot. It can also help for seniors to consider a trial run with home care providers to get some personal experience with how professional caregivers can help.
Emotional Reactions to Change
Change is difficult and seniors may feel especially reluctant to experience big changes. Aging is full of enough big change as it is. It helps if family caregivers are patient about the idea of seniors trying home care services for themselves. Approaching the conversation with patience and empathy allows seniors to have the space to process their feelings about the idea.
Denial of Health Concerns
Another common issue is that sometimes seniors are in denial about the health issues they’re facing. They may feel as if they don’t actually need any help or that everything is fine as it is. Helping seniors to understand what’s really going on with their health is an important part of getting seniors the help they need. Family caregivers might find it helpful to get assistance from healthcare providers to help seniors develop proactive plans.
Resisting home care assistance isn’t as unusual as it might sound. Seniors often have some strong reasoning for their reluctance, so it’s up to family caregivers to look deeper at what the underlying concerns might be. There is almost always a way to help seniors address their concerns, especially when families are coming from a place of calm empathy.
If you or a senior loved one are considering home care assistance in Livingston, NJ or surrounding areas, please call our friendly staff at 908-590-1759.
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