As you start your caregiving journey with your elderly loved one, it may quickly become apparent that your loved one’s needs are changing. How you and your loved one talk about current and future care is important and can set the stage for how those conversations go in the future.

Don’t Put it Off, Even if You’re Tempted To

You may not feel like you’re ready for this talk, but putting it off won’t make it any easier. The key is going to be diving in and just opening the topic up. Your loved one may not want to have this talk, either, but the sooner you can get the conversation rolling, the better.

Personalize the Talk and Get Specific

Using specific examples from your loved one’s own life are going to go a lot further with her than using generalities that can apply to anyone’s situation. If she’s been having specific health problems or trouble with a particular task, talk about what concerns you.

Ask Your Loved One Questions and Listen for the Answers

When you do finally open up the conversation, ask your loved one what kind of care she wants now and in the future. Encourage her to give you her honest answers and slow down to listen carefully to her answers. Make sure to listen to the answers, even if they’re not the answers that you expected or that you hoped to hear. The purpose of the conversation is to find out where everyone stands.

Be Honest and Don’t Rush the Conversation

While you’re encouraging your loved one to remain honest with you, you have to return that favor. You need to let your loved one know that you’ve got your own boundaries when it comes to future care. It’s entirely possible that you’ll need additional help, whether that’s from other family members or from home care providers. You can’t do it all on your own and your loved one needs to know that.

You may need to have several talks with your loved one, so don’t be surprised if you’re not able to get to everything the first time out of the gate.

If you or an aging loved one needs home care in Roseville, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.

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Jay Bloodsworth

Owner at A Better Living Home Care

I started A Better Living Home Care Agency after seeing the impersonal and inconsistent service of large home care companies and franchises in the Greater Sacramento Area. I know, because I once worked for one. I left to put the “personal” back into home care.

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