Are you a family caregiver? You’re not alone. More than 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to someone in their family.
As a family caregiver, you probably recognize many benefits to helping loved ones stay in their home to age in place rather than live in an assisted living facility.
As people age, their needs may change, take more time, or become more complicated. That’s when many family caregivers look to professional home care for some support. But it is a good idea to have conversations with your older loved ones well before that time to understand their thoughts on home care.
Have a Conversation With Your Loved One About What They Want
While you may have a plan already set in your mind, you want to go over this plan with your loved one before you move forward. Ultimately, your loved one is the one who will be receiving care. It’s their life that will be affected.
Here are ways to approach the conversation:
- Lead with love and respect. This will ensure your loved one that you are putting them first and actively considering their best interest when finding home care options.
- Protect their independence. Focusing on your loved one’s quality of life and autonomy is essential in fostering trust in your relationship.
- Share all information. This is another step in fostering trust in your relationship with your loved one. Sharing all social posts, articles, and magazines about home care is a good way to start going through potential options and jumpstarting the overall conversation about their care plan.
- Communicate your role and responsibilities to everyone. This engages everyone in your family and outside stakeholders in the conversation about your loved one’s long-term care plan. Being open and honest about your role will make you visible to your loved one and other family members and simplify communicating with outside stakeholders such as medical professionals, social workers, and even home care agencies.
Here are some conversation starters you can use:
- “Can I get your opinion on a couple of things, Mom?”
- “I heard of a service that can send a person to help with light housekeeping for seniors. What do you think of this idea?”
- “Dad, I’m really worried about you falling on the stairs; you’ve tripped a couple of times. How can I help keep you safe?”
- “Mom, can we spend five minutes jotting down ideas about getting someone else to do some work in the house?”
Find The Right Care Solution
With a clear understanding of your loved one’s needs, it’s time to research home care options available in your area. Look for reputable home care agencies with a history of providing high-quality and compassionate services. Online reviews, recommendations from friends or healthcare professionals, and accreditation from relevant organizations are great indicators of a company’s reliability.
Once you and your loved one have identified potential home care providers, schedule consultations with them. During these meetings, ask about the range of services they offer, the qualifications of their caregivers, and their approach to creating personalized care plans. Take note of how well they address your concerns and whether they prioritize open communication.
Understanding the costs associated with home care is crucial for making an informed decision. Ask about the agency’s pricing structure, additional fees, and whether they accept your loved one’s insurance or offer other payment options. Transparency in financial matters is essential to avoid any surprises down the road.
Whether you opt for professional home care, respite care, or even settling on senior living communities, remember that this works best for you and your loved one. At SYNERGY HomeCare, we know that no one’s care plan will be the same, and each has its benefits and challenges. Keeping your loved one’s best interest in mind is key to having a positive quality of life as they age.
___________
For more information on caring for a loved one, download SYNERGY HomeCare’s free Sandwich Generation Family Caregiver Guide.
SYNERGY HomeCare offers no obligation home assessments. Find a location near you or Contact us to talk to a Home Care specialist.
