How to Overcome Family Denial of Home Care Needs

If you’re encountering family denial of home care needs for an older loved one, these tips will help everyone come to a place of agreement.

When you begin to notice the red flags that care in the home is required for someone you love, it’s very common for that individual to resist the idea. After all, acknowledging the need for assistance is not easy, especially for somebody who prizes their privacy and independence. Yet what do you do when you encounter family denial of home care needs for an older loved one? When you’ve reached an impasse within your family in regards to the need for senior care, there is one potential culprit to consider: denial.

Why Would a Family Member Deny the Need for Care in the Home?

Denial is a coping mechanism employed to protect against feelings of helplessness or anxiety about an impending change. Your family member may feel more comfortable sticking their head into the sand in order to maintain status quo. Or, they may not be as knowledgeable about the day-to-day care of the person as you are, so they are not seeing exactly the same concerns.

Regardless of the cause for the denial, there are several strategies that can help you see eye to eye and ensure the person you both love receives the necessary support and care.

• Listen. Communication is a two-way street, so make certain to listen at least just as much as you are presenting your own thoughts and concerns. Acknowledge and validate the person’s feelings. Try to the very best of your ability to keep the conversation calm and on an even keel, avoiding anger, sarcasm, and comments you might later regret.
• Educate. Instead of arguing from your own perspective, look to trustworthy resources to validate your opinion. Research details on the progression of a particular health issue the senior is managing. Learn together about the challenges of getting older, the risks of senior falls, when it might be time to hand over the car keys, etc., and use that education as the springboard for a discussion on how to ensure safety and comfort for the older adult.
• Reinforce. Bring in a professional third party to strengthen the advantages of home care in your particular situation. Make a scheduled appointment to consult with the senior’s health care provider together. Sometimes, hearing firsthand information from a healthcare expert is all that is necessary to help a family member in denial change their viewpoint.

Also, bear in mind that it can be helpful to begin home care services gradually and slowly and work up to more services over time. For instance, Hired Hands Homecare can start with preparing meals, light housekeeping, running errands, or providing transportation initially. As the senior and caregiver form a bond of trust and companionship and the benefits of home care become more apparent, it is then very easy to add in more hours or extra care tasks, for example, help with bathing and personal care needs.

When you’re ready to explore home care services for someone you love, we are here to talk with you and your family about options and to answer any questions you might have. We are available to address any concerns a member of your family is feeling about initiating home care during a free consultation, right in the comfort of home.

Contact Hired Hands Homecare at (866) 940-4343 any time to find out more or to get started with home care services in Novato, Santa Rosa, Napa, and throughout the Bay Area.