As someone with a senior mom or dad, you may be trying to care for your mom or dad and not know how to care for them. You may face a few challenges, or you may find that your loved one doesn’t want to depend on you while aging in place. If your loved one wants to age in place, they should look for companion care at home to help them through this process. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to be involved; it may take an entire team to care for your mom or dad while they age. Here are some common mistakes you and many others make with elderly parents.
Not Focusing on Communication
One of the most common mistakes seniors and adult children have is miscommunication. They either need to communicate things or have a different communication style than you. If you are trying to figure out what is happening in your loved one’s life but can’t get them to open up, consider asking companion care at home for updates. They are professionals who will provide companionship for your seniors but also help keep an eye on them safe. When you and your senior don’t know how to communicate, things can be much harder than they need to be. When you can fully communicate and know what’s going on, you know exactly how to help and can save yourself and your seniors a lot of frustrations in the future.
Not Having Long-Term Care Set Up
Your senior may want to age in place, and that is okay. It is something that seniors are choosing more often now. Luckily, many care options, including companion care at home, can help your loved one age gracefully. However, one of many families' biggest mistakes is thinking they don’t need something set in place. Your loved one needs all the help and support they need.
This may mean they need a doctor for long-term care, a companion care at-home professional, and multiple family members willing to step up to help your senior loved one. It’s so crucial to have a plan in place.
Not Allowing Them To Ask For Help
If you and your seniors have difficulty communicating or don’t allow them to speak, they may feel like they can’t ask you for help. Building a trusting relationship with your seniors is important so they feel comfortable enough to ask for help. This is also true with the companion care at home you hire for your loved one. Your seniors should be able to trust their caregivers enough to ask them for help, and this will be crucial for aging in place as long as possible.
Not Taking Care of Your Own Needs
The biggest mistake you can make as an adult child is taking on too much and not caring for yourself. Your loved one may need a team of people to help them age gracefully, and it is not something you have to take on alone. There are a lot of resources and options for your loved one out there, and you can find them for extra help.
