Is Your Parent Involved in Your Elder Care Decisions?

By Jamie Shapiro | April 7, 2016 | Comments Off on Is Your Parent Involved in Your Elder Care Decisions?

Elder Care in Deerfield IL

Taking the step to become your parent’s primary caregiver is not making the choice to take over her life. You are not telling her that you are now the one in control or that she has lost her independence and autonomy because of her needs. Instead, being on an elder care journey with your parent should be about working with her to acknowledge her needs and address them in ways that are appropriate for her. This means creating a cooperative relationship that focuses not just on what you think that your parent needs, but what she believes and feels for herself as well.

Ensuring that your parent is involved in your elder care decisions is important on several levels. Promoting independence keeps your parent’s self-esteem and self-confidence high and helps to decrease the rate of cognitive decline. It also reduces the chances that your parent will suffer from issues such as depression, anxiety, loss of motivation, and disconnection that are common among elderly adults. This is also a way that you can show your respect and love for your parent. It can be extremely emotionally challenging for an elderly adult to admit that she needs help, and then to accept that help from an adult child. By ensuring that you take your parent into consideration with each decision and get her input as much as possible, you show her that she is still an individual and still has control over her own life.

 

Use these tips to help you get your parent involved in your elder care decisions:

  • Bring up issues first. Rather than just jumping to making decisions, first talk about the issues that you have noticed. Present your concerns and make yourself open for a discussion about those issues. You might find that your parent has noticed the same things and has already come up with ideas for solutions.
  • Ask whenever possible. It is never a good idea to assume what another person would think, feel, or believe about a situation. Even when that other person is someone as close as your own parent, you still cannot be sure about any situation. This is why it is important to ask whenever possible when making a decision. Taking the time to ask your parent before making a decision confirms what is the right choice and shows your parent that you are doing what is right for her rather than just what you think is right.
  • Explain differences. There are likely going to be times when you are not able to go along with exactly what your parent wants. You might make a decision that is different from the one that she wanted, but you know that it is the one that is right in that situation. Be open and honest about these changes. Tell her exactly why you made the different decision and how you think that it will benefit her. Encourage her to remain involved in the situation regardless of the decision that you have made.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Deerfield, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Jamie Shapiro
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