It can be difficult for seniors to admit that they need help to take care of their daily needs. This can make it hard for their loved ones to offer them the help they need. If you have an elderly family member who is resistant to accepting your help then there are a few strategies you can try to get them to be more open to your assistance.
Show Understanding
It is important for you not to take the resistance personally especially if you and the senior have had a close and harmonious relationship throughout the years. For some seniors accepting the fact that they need help to take care of their needs is a sign of weakness. It may also signal in their mind a loss of independence. Showing that you are sympathetic towards their concerns is one of the best ways to get them to accept your help. Do not make demands, instead try to let them see that you have put yourself in their shoes and that you value their feelings.
Make Small Strides
After you have identified all the things that the senior needs help with, you should offer to help them with a few things at first. Compliment what they have been doing and praise their independence this will make you seem less of a threat when you offer to help.
Get Help
You may need to have an intervention, especially if not receiving help could be potentially life threatening to the senior. Enlist close family and friends and ask them to do a group intervention where all of them express their love and support for the senior. The intervention should not be done in such a way that it intimidates the senior, instead it should have each family member or friend voicing their concerns for the well-being of the senior. Here are some tips you can use for your intervention.
While it is not always easy to get a senior who is resisting help to finally comply. It can be done if you approach the situation in a careful and thoughtful manner. Talk to a professional like First In Care Home Health Agency Inc to get your senior the help they need.
Share15 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.
