Topic: caring well
This is a common scenario and often what brings families to Aging Wisdom for our expert guidance: The parent that refuses help, especially when it’s clear they need it!
In this conversation, Wendy Nathan, Certified Care Manager at Aging Wisdom, and Sandra Cook discuss some of the scenarios they’ve experienced working with adult children and their parents.
Wendy advises to start small, just as she shared in the earlier podcast, which you can listen to by CLICKING HERE. Bring in a neutral third party, such as a geriatric Care Manager like Aging Wisdom, to help move the conversation forward and provide solutions and options that will work well for the person in your care.
Worst case scenario, as Wendy and Sandra shared, could be a house fire or Adult Protective Services (APS) is contacted because of a report of self-neglect on the part of the older person.
Find ways to work with your parents before it gets to that point. It takes patience and persistence, but it will pay off in the long run.
Hire a professional to help early on. Especially if you find yourself getting frustrated and overwhelmed. A person trained in guiding conversations and helping with older adults who are resistant to help can honor your parents’ feelings and yours and streamline the process.
Looking for knowledgeable help? Schedule a free get-acquainted call with one of our Aging Life Care Experts today.
Additional Reading
Feeling truly seen and heard helps to build trust and relationship, and contributes to aging well, caring well, and living well.
Our Care Managers and Creative Engagement Specialists are incredibly adept at the powers of observation, asking questions, actively listening, making connections, learning about the person in front of them, and being in the moment. Each conversation provides opportunity to know a client more personally, find ways to add to their quality of life, and enhance well-being. …
Person-Centered Support and the Power of ListeningRead More »
by Jullie Gray, MSW, LICSW, CMC.
Ask anyone for their top advice about living a long, healthy life and you’ll probably hear tips about the importance of eating well, stopping smoking, exercising and getting regular medical checkups. Don’t throw those good habits out the window; but, it may come as a shock to learn that connecting with others may be the single most important ingredient for aging well.
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