3 Steps to Better Advocate for an Aging Parent

Trusting someone you love to the care of someone else is never easy, particularly for a senior family member. Whether at home or in a facility, you’ll have questions you need answered. You will also want to be ready to advocate for an aging parent to proactively address any potential problems and also to quickly take care of issues that do take place.

For instance, review the following common situations and how to most effectively advocate should they arise with an older adult you love:

• The person has dementia. A loved one with Alzheimer’s might not be able to effectively communicate their wishes and needs. As an example, a new caregiver may not realize that Dad wears inserts in his shoes and she may put his shoes on each day without them. Dad may not know how to communicate this need or may have forgotten about this need and start to become uncomfortable. Or he may act out because he is experiencing discomfort, which might lead to other issues. As the senior’s voice, make certain to share even the littlest details about the person’s preferences with the care provider.
• You live at a distance. Thanks to technology, it is easier than ever to stay close to a long-distance relative and also to keep a finger on the pulse of how things are going. FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype with the senior regularly to check in. If a family portal is available for the care provider and family members to share notes and comments, make the most of this communication tool. And in case you are not able to visit in person, ask a friend or other member of the family who lives close by to drop in routinely.
• You’re worried about challenging behaviors. If the person is susceptible to wandering, aggression, angry outbursts, hoarding, or any of an array of other difficult behaviors, you might feel ashamed or embarrassed. Though you may prefer not to discuss the issue, it is better to share this openly with the care provider. More likely than not, they have knowledge about successfully dealing with a wide range of personalities and personal nuances, and will be able to include strategies which will work most effectively with the person you love.

Hired Hands Homecare partners with families, working together to ensure the highest quality of care and life for older adults, through personalized services such as:

• Running errands
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• Meal planning and preparation
• Personal care for safe baths/showers, getting dressed, etc.
• Transportation and accompaniment
• Companionship for fun activities and conversations
• And much more

Contact us at (866) 940-4343 for a free in-home consultation to allow us to get to know one another and to develop a care plan to best meet the needs of an older adult you love. Our services are available throughout Novato, Pleasanton, Napa, and the surrounding areas.