Life is all about change. Sometimes those changes are really good and exciting, like the birth of a new baby. Other times, change is really tough and heartbreaking. When an older loved one starts to have difficulty around the house and requires assistance, it can be a hard change for a family to go through.
Having a plan in place to ensure that the people you love are supported and well cared for can make that change a little bit easier.
The first step in being prepared is to understand what the needs you are facing are. What health or physical challenges does your older loved one have? What emotional needs are present? What are the things that they are passionate about within their lifestyle that should not change? Start with these things as the objectives of what you are hoping to accomplish or preserve while moving forward.
The next step is to get an idea of what types of services or activities can help your family to do these things. When it comes to senior care, this can be tough simply because not everyone has a firm understanding of what the different types and services associated with senior care can accomplish.
It’s also important to remember that change is a process. Just because someone is told that a change is important (such as moving into a care facility) does not mean that the individual will be accepting of change. Experts call that the precontemplation stage. It’s the stage of change where someone is given information but isn’t ready to think about making a change yet. In the stages of change, it’s the very first step, coming before contemplation, which is when change isn’t made or ready to be made, but the individual is thinking about making a change.
Time is necessary if real change is going to be made. Accepting that care is needed is easy for some, but not for everyone. Most people need time to really wrap their minds around a major change in their life, even if they are given information reinforcing the necessity of that change. This is a big reason why starting the care conversation early is important. The earlier the conversation is started, the more time someone has to process what senior care in their own lives might look like.
It also gives families more time to prepare and find the perfect care for their situation. Each family is different, and what works for some won’t always work for all. Preparation allows you to find what will be best for your family.
Change isn’t easy. When it comes to the lives of the people you love, it’s even tougher than in other circumstances. Planning ahead can help, sure, but that’s not always possible. That’s why, when you need to find a caregiver quickly to help a loved one, you want the right team on your side.
We’d love to help. Please get in touch if you have questions about care or would like to learn more about how we could help your family.
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