When your parents need more help than you can provide due to mobility issues, cognitive impairments, or related problems, you need to discuss home health care services. It’s a difficult conversation for adult children and aging parents; however, it’s one that provides peace of mind as well as skilled care that keeps aging loved ones healthy and happy. Below, review tips for making this conversation a success.

4 Tips for Talking to Your Elderly Parents About Home Health Care

1. Pick the Right Time

Choose an ideal time to broach the subject, such as in the morning after breakfast, when your parents feel energized and alert, or in the afternoon when they’re calm. Avoid telephone or video chat conversations that can feel rushed or impersonal, and allow your parents to vocalize their concerns and needs.

2. Focus on the Benefits

Keep the conversation positive by focusing on what perks your parents will enjoy with home health care services. Discuss how they will be staying at home instead of moving to a senior care facility, or how they’ll enjoy more time for hobbies because of caregiver cleaning services.

Ask your parents what they want from elderly care services, such as help cooking or additional companionship.

3. Avoid Accusations

Never accuse your parents of needing senior care services because their memory is failing or because your schedule cannot handle taking care of them anymore. Instead, use “I” statements, such as “I would feel so much better if I knew you had help when I’m not here,” or “I just want to make sure you’re getting the best care possible.”

4. Make It a Joint Decision

Steer the conversation so your parents feel involved instead of getting told what will happen. Emphasize that the conversation will continue so they can exercise control over the situation, such as choosing what days a home health care provider will stop by or starting with a trial period to see how things progress. The more your parents feel like it is a joint decision, the less resistance you will likely experience. 

Discuss your aging loved one’s needs with the team at Deer Valley Home Health Services. The home health care provider with locations in Berkeley, St. Charles, and St. Louis, MO, has served the region for over 10 years, providing services for kids with special needs, adults, veterans, and seniors. Call (314) 355-3679 to get started or learn more about their services online.