Overcoming Resistance to Home Care

How to Help a Loved One Overcome Resistance to In-Home Care

It’s perfectly normal for a loved one to seem resistant when it comes to discussing in-home care, but the good news is that there are ways to help reduce this resistance and create a peaceful transition for everyone. One of the first things you can do is to uncover why your loved one is resistant to in-home care. For instance, many older adults feel that enlisting in-home care means giving up their independence. Others feel like they’re giving up privacy, and others are simply scared about the aging process and the changes that come with it.

Planning for Home Care 

On your end, one of the best things you can do to overcome resistance to in-home care is to include your loved one in the planning of their care. It’s important to respect their wishes and take their preferences into account. If their care reflects their wants, they are more likely to be on board. When your loved one is playing a pivotal role in their in-home care planning, they’ll feel more in control and secure.

Another aspect is to be open and honest about your needs. Let your loved one know that you need them to have in-home care because it gives you peace of mind, the ability to continue your full time job, the chance to be more involved with your own kids, etc. Another way to help a loved one overcome resistance to in-home care is to get the opinion of others. Some of these people could be professionals - family doctors or counselors. Other people, including family members and friends, could also help sway your loved one.

When it comes to arranging in-home care for your loved one, be open and honest about your intentions. Let your loved one know that any in-home care is going to be on a trial basis. That means that you and your loved one can continue to collaborate on what’s truly best for him or her. If an arrangement isn’t working out, let your loved one know that you’ll work to find something that does work.

Aging adults feel a range of emotions, especially when it comes to enlisting the help of in-home care for the first time. Remember to remain patient and listen to the needs of your loved one to help them overcome any resistance.

Mackenzie Kelly
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