As seniors get older, they may start to feel uncomfortable with the idea of having help, either from family caregivers or from senior home care providers. Very often, however, seniors have more resistance about professional caregivers helping them with their daily lives. There are tons of reasons they might feel this way, but understanding what is behind those feelings can help family caregivers approach the topic carefully and with empathy.
Privacy Concerns
One common worry for many seniors is that they’ll lose their privacy if they have home care providers helping them. Seniors often feel that having someone in their homes might mean that strangers are going to invade their personal space and start telling them what they can and can’t do. Professional caregivers are trained to be respectful and discreet as they assist seniors, protecting their privacy as they offer help. That all means that seniors can get the help they need without feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed.
Fears About Losing Independence
Close on the heels of worries about privacy are concerns about losing independence. Many seniors fear that accepting help from senior home care providers means that they’ll lose control over their lives. They fear that they won’t be able to make decisions about their own care, leading them to be more resistant. Professional caregivers are only there to help as much as needed, not take over.
Fear About Changes
Change isn’t easy to accept and seniors often face some massive changes. Introducing professional caregivers to the mix can feel like a huge life shift, especially because seniors may experience changes to their routines. Seniors may worry that once they accept help from senior home care providers, other changes are going to be on the horizon.
Worries About Becoming Dependent on Help
Relying on other people can be scary. Seniors might worry that they’ll become dependent and that they won’t be able to count on senior home care providers to offer the assistance they need. But needing help doesn’t mean that seniors are weak or that they’re going to become a burden. Recognizing their feelings can help seniors to move through them and learn to become comfortable with the idea of having help.
Wanting Family Members to Be Their Only Helpers
Sometimes seniors believe that they can only get help from specific family members. That puts a lot of pressure on individuals to be there when seniors need them to be. It’s understandable that seniors have strong feelings about who helps them, but senior home care providers can build trust and emotional connections with seniors as they offer them help. Combining family support with professional caregiving assistance respects boundaries and preferences while also ensuring family caregivers have support as well.
Understanding these common concerns can help families to talk with aging adults about senior home care with compassion and empathy. These types of decisions can be really difficult, especially if aging adults haven’t needed much help in the past. Building trust and establishing care plans that offer seniors both support and independence can help quite a bit.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Elizabeth, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare of Parker. 303-953-9924
