How to Talk to Your Loved One About In-Home Caregiving

When your loved one is diagnosed with a progressive disease, one of the first questions that may come to mind is how you will care for them. It’s tough, especially if you have other responsibilities, to consider becoming a full-time caregiver who is responsible for the daily needs of your loved one. Unfortunately, many family members who have sick relatives end up delaying much of their own life in order to care for another. To make your life easier, you may consider an in-home caregiving service, which may require a difficult conversation with your loved one.

Objections from Your Loved One

The subject of caregiving can cause anxiety in some people who feel that they will be losing their independence and dignity if someone else is caring for them on a daily basis. Your loved one may object to a stranger coming into the home and taking care of tasks such as bathing them and administering medicine. Losing self-reliance and independence is a scary thing for most people, but it can be particularly confusing to someone who may not understand everything happening around them anymore due to a debilitating disease. It’s important to approach this subject with compassion and offer solutions to each objection.

The Advantages of In-Home Caregiving

In-home caregiving can be a relief to many family members who would otherwise find themselves in a position of daily caregiving duties. If you think this type of service would benefit your family, you can start by explaining to your loved one that by hiring an in-home caregiver, you are helping to keep them independent in their home as long as possible without moving them into an assisted living facility. Caregivers will come to them so that they have the ability to continuing living in the comfort of their own home.

Another advantage to in-home caregiving is personalized one-on-one service. Your loved one will have the opportunity to have the same caregiver attend to their needs on a regular basis without the distraction of helping others. The caregiver may be a stranger at first, but eventually, your loved one will get to know that person well, and they can develop a comfortable relationship.

It may benefit you to also explain to your loved one that by hiring an in-home caregiver, you are alleviating the pressure that caregiving can put on a family. When you have a professional doing most of the daily caring, you and your loved one can focus on having fun and enjoying time together without the stress and burden of caregiving.

Perhaps the most significant advantage to having in-home caregiving services is that there is someone there to help your loved one in case of emergency. Remind your loved one that you care for them and that you would be devastated if anything happened to them. By having a caregiver in the home, your loved one has someone close by who can help them in times of need such as if they fall or suffer a heart attack, especially if you can’t be there right away.

Try Out In-Home Caregiving

If your loved one is still unsure about using an in-home caregiving service, it may be worth asking them to try it out temporarily. At 24/7 Nursing Care, we offer our in-home caregiving and nursing services on a part-time or full-time basis depending on your needs. By trying our services, you are allowing your loved one to decide if an in-home caregiver is right for them.

We are happy to talk with you about all of your concerns regarding in-home caregiving services. Give us a call! We can be reached at 786-518-3622 in Miami or 954-949-1332 in Broward.