How to Prepare for Senior In-Home Care
For many Santa Clarita families, navigating the delicate balance of respecting your family member’s autonomy and seeing their growing need for help can be difficult. To best prepare for the transition, it’s important to begin researching and having open discussions about senior home care early and often.
Start with Research
You may have started to notice your elderly family member struggling with day to day activities. If you have, it’s a good time to do some research before discussing options with your family member. The more prepared you are when you start the conversation, the easier it will be for your family member to digest and understand.
Elder home care is more varied in options than you might think. Knowing the different ways senior in-home care works will help you find the right fit when looking for a caretaker or elder in-home care provider. Some services provide help with errands, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and transportation. This type of service is a great way to start in-home care for your family member.
Cost is another very important aspect to understand before speaking with your family member. Having a solid understanding of the options available, the insurance coverage, and overall costs will make finding elder home care an easier process.
Talk Soon and Talk Often
This might seem like simple advice, but talking with your elderly family member about in-home care before the situation gets more difficult can help prevent potential issues. Approaching the question about in-home care even before it seems like your family member(s) need it will make it easier to address in the future. Ask your family members what their preference is should the situation arise where they are in need to assistance on a day to day basis.
When speaking with your family member about in-home care, it is important to respect their wishes and autonomy. Try not to use phrases such as, “you should” or “you have to” when discussing the topic as these phrases can come across as controlling. When a family member is starting to have issues living independently, it is not always easy to admit that they need help. Having these discussions earlier with your family member and asking them what their preference is goes a long way to finding the right care options for your loved one.
Comfort Keepers in Santa Clarita offers several options for senior care, whether you need someone round the clock or just for a few hours as an extra hand around the house. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help, and check out our free guide to help you with the first step.
Comfort Keepers
23900 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-287-4200