When an elderly person leaves the hospital after an injury or a health issue, such as a stroke, it is common for a social worker to schedule a short stint of in-home health care. Depending on the type of care and where you are located, this may even be covered by an insurance policy. This is, of course, something that you would need to work out on your end, but it does occur. Home care is a great solution for many individuals, and because it is so much more cost effective than a stay in the rehab section of a nursing home or a skilled nursing facility, many hospitals are taking this route for their patients.
If you have ever found yourself in such a situation, it’s important to remember that there are different types of home care. At Paradise In-Home care, the care that our caregivers give is non-medical. This type of care is to help individuals get through their daily tasks, such as meal preparation and bathing. A hospital may recommend one or both of these things, depending on what your loved one is recovering from.
In-home care of any sort, even if it is recommended by a medical professional, is not always welcome. We understand that. It might be hard for you to understand that your mom or dad needs help and monitoring around the house, but for them, it might be a very different story. No one wants to hear that they are not as physically capable or as healthy as they once were, and having an aide or a caregiver in the home can be a unwelcome visual reminder of this. If they refuse care, there is often very little that you can do to force them to get the assistance that they need.
A Couple Tips
What should you do in such a situation? Many families that have found themselves grappling with this question have been forced to make a decision, and it’s not always a pleasant situation to make a hurried decision of this nature.
While every situation is different and needs to be treated as such, remember that you’re the one who knows your parent better than anyone else. You know their likes and their dislikes, and you know their needs. This might be a sensitive subject, but odds are, you know how to best approach it. Some people like having things told to them directly, while others might need more gentle persuading. Be sure that you use the appropriate amount of tact when beginning this conversation.
Next, be sure that you have choices on your side. If care is going to be needed, home care might seem like the best choice for you, but it’s not your only choice. If you have all of the options before you when discussing this, your mom or dad can become a part of the decision making process. Having decisions made for you–especially decisions like this that have such a big impact on life–is not easy. Even if it seems like an easy choice, allowing your parent to participate will make it a little easier for them.
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