At some stage your elderly family member may need more help, but that doesn’t mean she wants it or is excited to have that help. Working through some of the issues around having more help can give you both a way to take a step back.

Don’t Push Too Hard with the Idea of Help

Lots of times people who are in need of help aren’t sure how to accept that help at first. It’s a difficult situation to get used to and if you’re pushing the idea too hard, that can make your senior more resistant. When you talk about these types of topics can be just as important as what you say, so look for a time when your elderly family member seems open to the idea.

Make Sure You’re Both on the Same Page

What do you mean when you offer your senior more help? It might seem obvious from your point of view, but that doesn’t mean your senior knows exactly what you mean. Talk to her about what you’re envisioning. If that’s a caregiver who comes in according to her schedule and help with specific tasks, lay that out for your senior. Don’t assume that she knows exactly what you mean without talking it through.

Help Her Figure out What She Really Needs

Your senior may have a vague idea that she could use some more assistance, but does she know what she really needs? Sit down with her and work out exactly what she feels would be helpful. If she wants help with driving and meal preparation, that’s important for you to know. If she’d rather have general help with household tasks, that’s good to know, too.

Factor in What She Can Still Do

There’s a lot that your senior can still do and honestly, she should continue to do what she can. That old saying about “use it or lose it” can definitely apply for older adults. The idea behind getting someone in to help her with some tasks isn’t to take everything away from her. It’s to ensure that she’s safe and that she has all of the help that she truly needs and wants so that she isn’t overtaxing herself.

When you and your elderly family member are on the same page about this topic you’re going to find that it’s a lot easier to work through issues that crop up. Take time to touch base and to re-evaluate how things are working, too.

If you are considering caregivers in Marcellus, MI, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at Fresh Perspective Home Care at (269) 329-4717. We are here to help!

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Shelly Nutter

Area Vice President at Fresh Perspective Home Care

Shelly Nutter has been a driving force in the Fresh Perspective Home Care team since 2008 and is currently the Area Vice President. She began caring for others at a young age and has never looked back. Her strong faith and family values drives her passion for helping others. Shelly says she never found a career that fulfilled a "bigger purpose" her previous jobs until begin her home care career with Fresh Perspective Home Care. "Here I found growth, purpose, and a career to match my personal ambition of making a difference in the lives of others." Shelly is native to the Kalamazoo/Portage, Mi area and has been married for over 25 years Together they have three children that she believes have benefited from watching Mom work hard to help others, advocate for others, and give to others. She also holds a bachelors degree in Accounting and an associates degree in Business Management.

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