Our elders might feel that they are getting younger day by day, contrary to the decline in their health and they independence. A difficult and daunting task for any child or family member is to make them understand that they are not getting younger by the day and need a caregiver.
One thing is for certain, they will never accept that they need assistance, even if they are struggling with day-to-day activities such as bathing, food, forgetfulness, and lack of concentration which is just a part of greying hair.
Home attendant services for elders, especially in India, is still a very sensitive topic that can lead to arguments or raging tempers. For one, our elders have come from very conservative backgrounds and they belong to a generation wherein getting help from someone from outside (caregiver) is most often seen as unnecessary and they expect their children, grandchildren, and other family members to look after them and consider it as a waste of money.
So, to make Home Healthcare and a nursing caregiver more acceptable, here are some tips on how you can introduce and make in-home care more acceptable to your elders.
1. Keep it slow – Getting used to the idea that a person will be staying in their house for 24 hours or even 12 hours can call for a lot of adjusting. Letting them get used to the idea of having someone around always can start by letting the caregiver come for shorter durations in the beginning, for example, when you go out to the movies or go to office, when the elders will be alone at home and the caregiver can stay and start to build a bond with them.
2. Be all ears – There might be some predefined blocks in their thinking or genuine concerns on why they believe that they do not require an attendant or caregiver. Be all ears and listen to their feelings and fears. You can also then explain to them why you think it is important and in return, they might be more willing to cooperate when they believe that their opinion is important to you too.
3. Explain that it is for YOU, not them – For all senior people, their independence, the lifestyle, and their dignity plays is of foremost importance. So, putting it across to relate that the caregiver is for you, not them puts across the idea that the caregiver is coming to support you, they might become receptive and more accepting of the idea.
4. Do not discuss costs – If you think that the added financial burden is what is stopping the elders from accepting care, then you can always make the offer more pliable by saying it is a free trial or a free service.
5. Just for a few days – You can even get your seniors to become more acceptable about it if you tell them that it is just a temporary adjustment for a few days. This way, they’ll become more acceptable to start using in-home care and then it is only a matter of time. Once the caregiver becomes an integral part of their routine, it will become easier for them.
