Conversations with loved ones about aging are always difficult. But as you start to notice signs of both physical and mental decline in people, especially your loved ones, it’s important to be having those conversations.
It’s not a new thing for people to have a resistance to in-home care assistance or moving into an aged care facility. But, it’s certainly becoming more of an issue as the amount of mature aged Australians amongst the population continues to grow.
So how can we approach this resistance to aged care?
It’s important to note that these conversations are often not just a one and done situation. Multiple conversations often need to be had before the first action is taken and acceptance of care occurs.
So don’t give up hope after the second or third conversation, because they might just not be ready to hear it.
Some things to consider when having these conversations:
Tone and delivery
Make sure you’re treating your loved one with care when voicing your thoughts about care options. It can be easy to get angry and frustrated when talking about this topic, but try to remember how you would feel if someone was having this conversation to you.
Take a deep breath and talk to them from the perspective of wanting them to be safe and looked after. Try not to target their visible signs of decline and making them feel like the problem.
You don’t need to jump straight to residential care
We may be bias, but trying to push your loved ones straight into residential care when they are still handling day-to-day life somewhat fine on their own is not the answer.
Many people who are looking for care of their loved ones are doing so because they don’t feel they have the time or ability to take care of the person on their own. But little do most people know that in-home care is for mature aged adults of all needs, from basic care to 24/7 around-the-clock support. So even if it’s a visit once a week, this can make all the difference to someone in the early stages of decline.
Debunk the myths
Misconceptions about aged care can severely impact people’s view on the topic. So here’s just some myths we’d like to debunk.
‘By receiving in-home care you lose your independence and control’
The truth is, from both research and experience, this is quite the opposite. Getting in-home support will actually help continue your loved one’s independence and control. By having someone else take the reigns on the big jobs, this allows you more energy to focus on the things that help you continue being you without getting worn down by things like the housework.
‘Aged care is too expensive’
The cost of aged care can vary depending on the type of care received and the aged care facility chosen, making it essential to research your options. However, it’s important to remember that there are various funding options to help make aged care services more affordable.
Home Care Packages are an excellent program to look into for those who are wanting to explore in-home care options for their loved ones. Get started on this process at the earlier signs of decline as the sign up and package allocation process can take a while.
‘I’m going to have strangers in my house’
Whilst this is a scary thought for your loved ones to let people into their home and see how their live, My Care Solution assures that where possible, we try our best to create a small team of Caregivers who they can become comfortable and familiar with.
In the beginning it will be an interesting process to get use to, however once some trust and relationships are formed, our clients are overjoyed to be seeing their Caregivers. However, if clients are not satisfied with a Caregiver or do not feel comfortable around them, My Care Solution will always try to pair clients with a team better suited to them and their needs.
We hope this has helped put some perspective on the resistance to assistance being felt by many Australians. Accepting that you need care can be daunting, but with a supportive network of friends and family, it makes the process so much easier.
