As a family senior care provider, you likely experience a wide range of emotions each day: shared laughter over a joke with your loved one; worry over a health concern; and of course, from time to time, irritations. We would like only the best for the individuals we love, and when an older adult is resistant to doing an activity we know is beneficial, it can be difficult to determine the best response.
The important thing is to try to supply motivation and support, while remaining cautious not to cross the line into bullying a senior loved one. These tips are important to bear in mind:
- There’s no one-size-fits-all. A strategy that really works in one situation may perhaps be thoroughly ineffective in another. In the event that the older adult does not want to take a bath, for example, you may just prefer to let the matter go and try again later on. Or, maybe reframing bath time into a tranquil spa activity will hold increased appeal. Adding humor may work well one day, while using a gentler, softer tone of voice could be the answer on another. Having several different strategies at the ready will help decrease irritation for both of you.
- Encourage the senior to stay in charge. Have a heart-to-heart chat with the senior during a relaxed, peaceful moment to ask for feedback as to how the caregiving relationship is going, and what she or he wants to see modified. It is worthwhile to then take to heart the senior’s feedback and incorporate it in your caregiving strategy.
- Be aware of incremental bullying. While we definitely would never set out to bully a senior into conformity, it is possible to slowly progress from support and inspiration into pushiness and forcefulness without realizing it. Take a sincere examination of your tendencies in communicating with the one you love, and then make a plan to improve upon them as needed.
- Remember the overarching objective. Apart from the numerous tasks required in providing care for a loved one, preserving a healthy, positive and fulfilling relationship with one another is vital. If you find that the frustrations of providing senior care are outweighing the advantages for either of you at any time, there’s always the possibility of looking into alternate care options, so you can place your focus on enjoying quality time with the older adult you love.
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care is the ideal partner for family caregivers. Our caregiving staff are fully trained and knowledgeable in the multiple areas of senior home care, and will provide the assistance family members need to safeguard healthy relationships with those who they love. Call our Hinsdale senior care team at (630) 323-4665 or use our online contact form and request an in-home consultation to discover the real difference respite care can make in both a senior’s quality of life and yours.