Discussing care for an elderly relative with the family member in question can be especially challenging to navigate. Your relative is a person who may feel disrespected or offended at you suggesting they need further care. Unfortunately, sometimes specialized health care is required for a relative to live a more productive life.
At Senior Health Care Solutions, we offer several different elderly care options to the communities we serve. If you feel a loved one might need our services, we would be happy to have them as our patient. That said, breaking the news of this arrangement might not go over smoothly.
We may be able to help you discuss elderly care with your relatives in the most peaceful manner possible. It may not be easy, but you can make every effort to ease the news. Check out our tips for talking about this subject based on the three main types of care we provide.
Discussing Rehabilitation Services with Relatives
Discussing rehabilitation services with elderly relatives is generally one of the more accessible types of care to justify. In many cases, your relative can live their life as usual with the addition of physical therapy. The opportunity to return home at the end of the day or a physical therapy session may be all that is needed to convince an elderly relative of rehabilitation’s viability.
However, if a patient is unhappy with the procedure that made the physical therapy necessary in the first place, they may not want to continue dwelling on their ailment. Frame rehabilitation services as they are: an opportunity to feel better. The quicker the rehab is embraced, the faster life can continue for the patient.
Discussing Personal Care Services with Relatives
Personal care services are trickier to talk with elderly residents about than rehabilitation. Patients will often receive more intensive, consistent care and will probably stay in a facility for much longer or forever. Living in a personal care center is a big transition that can be difficult for patients and their families.
When speaking with your elderly relatives about potential personal care services, remind them that many of the nagging details of life, such as medication schedules and cleaning, will be relieved. They can also receive visitors and get to know the other patients, forming new and stronger bonds. With all of these discussions, make sure the best parts of receiving care are clearly stated.
Discussing Memory Care with Your Relatives
Memory care is probably the most challenging form of care to discuss with elderly residents. Nobody wants to feel as though they are not as sharp as they were when they were younger, and elderly residents may not be able to comprehend any cognitive decline fully. For these reasons, the subject must be discussed with extreme delicacy.
As with personal care residencies, memory care residencies can offer your relatives a wealth of new social opportunities and quality of life improvements that they may struggle to find at home. While discussing memory care, do not talk to your relative as if they are a child. Respect your relative’s autonomy and personhood in every word and be patient as you explain to them the situation.
Talk to Your Relatives About Care for the Elderly
If you believe one of your relatives needs care provided by Senior Health Care Solutions, give us a call. We provide fantastic service and care to all of our patients and would be happy to bring some comfort to your relative’s life. Reach out today to begin the process.
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