One of the toughest challenges you can face when dealing with the elderly is resistance to care.
How do you help a loved one who doesn’t want help?
If your loved one needs care, he or she is probably dealing with some sort of loss – whether it’s physical, mental, and/or the loss of independence. Accepting home care for some, means giving up their privacy, and having to adjust to new routines. As a result, your loved one may feel scared and vulnerable, angry that he or she needs elderly care or guilty about the idea of becoming a burden to family and friends. In addition, he or she may be stubborn, have mental health concerns or simply think it’s a sign of weakness to accept care. He or she might also worry about any associated costs. It’s important to remember these are all common issues for many families dealing with aging loved ones.
Communication is key, and starting the communication process can seem like a daunting task. Do you find yourself asking what is even the best way to approach a loved one about needing care?
Click on Caring for the Elderly: Dealing with Resistance to read how you can use effective strategies for managing resistance to care.
We can all use a little help when it comes to caring for our senior loved ones. Let us know your comments below.