Home health care is a necessary measure to take if you have an elderly relative that is living alone and is no longer able to keep him or herself safe. However, your relative might resent the fact that there is a stranger in his or her home and be angry that you are trying to take away his or her independence. If your relative rejects the home health care aide, then the aide will not be able to be nearly as effective and your relative will spend a great deal of time working against the aide, rather than trying to live a full life. In order to avoid either of these problems, here are some tips to follow to help your elderly relative accept their home health care aide.
1. Talk About All of the Good Things About Having an Aide
While you are talking to your relative, bring up some problems that you have been having trying to take care of your relative, such as being consumed with worry at the thought that he or she might fall and not be able to get back up. Also bring up the problems that you notice your relative having, such as not being able to make any more food besides simple, microwavable meals or not being able to remember to take his or her pills. Then, bring up the possibility of having an aide come and fix all of these problems. Do this several times during the few months before you decide to get a home health aide. This will help your relative realize the problems in his or her life and become annoyed enough by them to want someone to fix them.
2. Decide on the Aide Together
Next, you will want to start interviewing aides with your relative. Allow your relative to know that he or she can have the final say on the aide that comes into his or her home as long as he or she chooses an aide by a predetermined date. Having the ability to choose the aide will make it much easier for your relative to find the aide acceptable.
3. Show How the Aide Increases Independence
Finally, make sure that you point out how having an aide allows your relative to experience an increase in the amount of independence that he or she experiences every day. The aide might make it easier for your relative to go out, or give your relative the confidence to garden outside without worrying about not being able to get up off the ground. Pointing out how the aide is helping will decrease feelings of dependency.
For more information, talk to your relative's doctor or contact a company like Neighbors Home Care Services.
Share9 July 2015
In the past, when I thought about home health care, I pictured an elderly man or woman stuck in bed just waiting to take his or her final breath. What I have recently learned is that there are people of all ages that can benefit from home health care specialists. When my niece was diagnosed with a rare liver disorder, our family rallied and did everything possible to make the new way of life as easy for my sister as possible. We spent hours over at her house helping with the baby, but then, my sister said she didn't need us as much --She had hired a home care aid. I hope this helps you in the future.
