5 Tips to Facilitate a Home Care Discussion with Seniors


Posted on January 26th, by Mark Winter in Aging, Homecare, Napa Home Care Planning. 57 comments

5 Tips to Facilitate a Home Care Discussion with Seniors

senior care discussion on home careOnce you’ve determined that hiring an agency to provide in home care for seniors is the best option to keep your senior loved one safe, healthy and socially engaged, you may run into a stumbling block when it’s time to bring your loved one fully on board with the idea. Many seniors balk at the thought of bringing a “stranger” into the home, or in having their routines disrupted. Contact us online or call us at (866) 940-4343 to learn about how we can help your family

At Hired Hands Homecare, we understand the trepidation that can occur when the idea of bringing a caregiver into the home is introduced, and are empathetic to seniors’ valid concerns. Following are five tips from the Family Caregiver Alliance that can help minimize objections to in-home care:

  1. Begin slowly – and early. Don’t wait until the care need reaches the emergency crisis stage. As soon as you begin to notice small changes in your senior loved one’s daily living abilities, gradually and gently begin to initiate a discussion about future needs and your loved one’s wishes and goals.
  2. Keep it calm. Pick the least stressful, most relaxed time of day to discuss the option of home care in more depth. Broaching the subject at the end of the day as you’re rushing to get dinner on the table, when everyone is hungry and tired, will probably bring about less than desired results.
  3. Try and try again. If your senior loved one agrees readily to the need for in-home care the first time you raise the discussion, you’re in the minority. Most seniors will resist the idea initially, but don’t give up. Shelve the topic for now, and then try again.
  4. Listen and offer respect. Just because your senior loved one may be ill, it doesn’t mean he or she is unable to make decisions affecting his or her care. As long as safety and health aren’t being compromised, honor his or her wishes, while continuing to touch on the subject periodically over time.
  5. Safety first. However, if your loved one is at risk due to health or safety concerns, enlist the aid of a medical professional to ensure that these concerns are addressed and proper care is in place.

While the path to accepting the help of an agency that provides in home care for seniors may be challenging, once implemented, even your senior will likely agree that having the assistance of a professional caregiver, such as those provided by Hired Hands Homecare, can make all the difference in his or her quality of life and wellbeing. Call us today to schedule a free in-home assessment and allow us to answer any of your questions about our top quality California senior care services!





57 thoughts on “5 Tips to Facilitate a Home Care Discussion with Seniors

  1. Luckily my mom’s family did the right thing and didn’t wait until the emergency stages of my grandma’s life to find an in home care service to come in and take care of her. She is getting to that age though and sadly we can’t always be there to take care of her. That is why they are deciding to go with the in home health care, that way, she will always be with someone and can be monitored 24/7. I hope that we can use these tips to find the right service to come in and help take care of my grandma.

  2. My mother is getting old and needs in home help. Thanks for the advice about keeping it calm and bringing up the topic in a relaxed time of day. Hopefully, we can get my mom to agree so that we can get a nurse to help us take care of her.

  3. I think it’s a great idea to start talking about home care when you notice their daily lives change. My friend has been telling me that his grandma is starting to struggle with daily abilities. I will have to let him know to bring it up slowly.

  4. I am so glad that I came across this article! My husband and I have been thinking about hiring someone to come and help take care of my mom because we both have really crazy work schedules. I think that these tips will really help us start the discussion with her, thanks for the information!

  5. I really like your tip about listening and offering respect when it comes to looking for in home care. My husband and I have been thinking about getting some in-home care for my mom but we haven’t really known where to start. I think that these tips will be really helpful in getting through the process. Thank you for sharing!

  6. My mother, who is 85 years old recently told me that she wants to be but in home care this summer since my dad passed away last December. It was wonderful to know from the page that just because your senior loved one may be ill, it doesn’t mean he or she is unable to make decisions affecting his or her care. I will be sure to talk to her more about this to make sure that she is certain that she wants this!

  7. As my mother is getting older, my siblings and I are wanting to make sure she is being cared for even if we are not there to help out. We are wanting her to stay in the house that her and my dad built, and have heard a lot of people suggest we hire a home health nurse. But before we agree, we want to make sure mom agrees to this. I like how you said that we start discussing this early with her just in case her health declines faster then we expect. That way she will feel like she was a part of the choice. Thanks for the insight!

  8. My grandmother has been having a hard time taking care of herself recently. My family has been thinking about getting her some type of in home care, but we aren’t sure if she will like that idea. So, I liked that you talked about how it would be smart to keep the conversations calm.

  9. I am glad to see such an amazing post about home care. Would you please write something about hiring a home care expert?
    I will be really appreciate if you tell us something about home care tools and accessories which are helpful especially for seniors

  10. We’ve been wanting to find some elderly care options for my grandparents, and I think that getting some tips would be good. I’m glad that you talked about trying over and over to make sure you find the right elderly care for them. I’m going to have to see if I can find some good elderly care, and keep trying until we get it right! Thanks!

  11. I like that you mentioned putting safety first. My dad is looking to get in-home care for my grandpa but wants tips. I’ll be sure to talk to him about just finding a professional and being safe about it.

  12. I thought it was interesting that you talked about making sure safety is a top priority. My dad is looking to get some senior care for his mom since she’s getting pretty old. I think I will talk to him about making safety a top priority.

  13. My mom is a bit older, and she’s been having some health problems lately. I’ve been trying to help her, but I don’t think that I’ve been able to help her like she needs. So I appreciate that you say that providing ongoing care for seniors is difficult and you should accept professional help if you need it. I’ll have to find someone who does senior care who could help me help her.

  14. Thanks for the tip to pick the least stressful and most relaxed time of day to discuss home care with your parents. My parents recently retired, and with my dad’s medical condition keeping him at home more and more, I think it might be time to discuss nursing with them. My family often visits them Sunday afternoons for dinner, so maybe that would be a good time to discuss the idea of getting them professional help through home care services.

  15. As your parents get older, they may begin to move more slowly or forget what they are doing. Depending on the state of the health, they may begin to lose strength. Learn to be a guiding hand and reassure them that things are going to be okay.

  16. I like your suggestion of talking to our senior loved one as soon as we notice small changes in their behavior. I think my mother will probably need senior care soon, but she can be a bit feisty so I’ve been nervous about having the discussion with her. Now that I know I shouldn’t put it off till it’s urgently needed, I’ll definitely take your advice and start preparing for the conversation now!

  17. Great tips! While I agree it can certainly be very difficult for a person to accept that they need home care. But sooner or later I think every aged person needs home care and approaching them in the right way for home care is necessary.

  18. Thanks for sharing this wonderful article. I know hiring a home care agency is the best solution for caring for our elders. Maybe some elders feel uncomfortable with unknown people at home. But if we make them ready and discuss with our family they support us and understand its need. Your article defines every point cleary. You did a great job.

  19. Really glad that I read this article at the right time. I was planning to hire a caregiver for my granddad due to my tough schedule. Thanks for the tips, really appreciate it.

  20. Thanks for pointing out that you should pick the least stressful, most relaxed time of day to discuss the option of home care in more depth. My sisters and I are thinking about talking to my dad about in-home care because we think that he would really benefit from it. I think that maybe choosing a time when he’s gardening or something where he’s relaxed and in a good mood would help make sure that he’s more open to the idea.

  21. If you’ve been seeing signs that your parent or loved one needs home care, then you may be feeling anxious about having that initial conversation with your parent. Introducing the idea of home care for a senior can be a sensitive conversation, but the tips you have shared are really helpful.

  22. I am so glad I came to your blog. It gave me some very helpful tips for in-home care. I have been raised by my grand mother only and now it’s my turn to ensure she lives long with great care. I can not bear any risks with her health as she is my only family. I am making my research for her best care and I am definitely going to bookmark this blog. Thanks

  23. I like your suggestion to start slowly and early. My grandmother’s health is declining rapidly and we need to start at-home care. I will make sure to keep your tips in mind as I attempt to talk to her again about letting a health professional into her life.

  24. I loved that you mentioned being persistent and patient if a senior initially rejects the idea of going into a home at first. My grandparents are getting on in years and my parents have discussed putting them in a home before but they shot that idea down quickly. I’ll let my parents know that they should try having the conversation again a bit later because they might be more receptive at that point.

  25. We are going to get a caregiver for my grandma. As you said here, there are some tips that we should follow. I’ll for sure begin to talk to her early as you did mention that doing so would ensure she gets the best possible care.

  26. Thanks for sharing this great article with us. I would like to add more content on this to enhance your thought and me too. Focus on their feelings instead of words or actions to understand their reaction. Really helpful article. I’ll bookmark your website for future read.

  27. Most of our aging parents want to live independently on their own, and just get a companion or a homemaker that can assist them daily. It is said here that there is no place like home and their lifespan gets extended when they are provided with proper home care services. I think I need to look for a home companion specialist for my mom since she’s been sick for a month now, and she doesn’t want to stress my kids in assisting her.

  28. It makes sense that you should consider talking about home care during a time that is not stressful or tense. My grandmother tends to get anxious whenever I talk to her about home health care after she falls because she thinks that she is being punished. It may be best to talk to her about it during a time that is calmer.

  29. You made a great point about staying come and making sure to pick a relaxed time since you will have a better chance at desirable results. My grandma recently turned 88 and she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, so she can’t really get around much anymore and needs to be taken care of. We will keep these tips in mind as we search for a professional that can take care of my grandma.

  30. I like that you explain that you should keep a calm demeanor and to pick a relaxed nonstressful time to begin the discussion. My husband and his parents have been trying to figure out what is best for his grandma since she can’t be alone anymore. I think we should look into finding a professional with experience with in-home care services to help them out.

  31. I agree that suggesting the idea of a home care facility to our elders is not an easy task, so it is important to be patient. I also like that this post advised us to never give up and to keep on trying. When I speak with my parents, I will definitely keep these tips in mind.

  32. Hey, Very nice article! This is true that we should look after our seniors and must do something for them. I always encourage my children to spend time with their grandparents and talk with them calmly. The tips that can minimize objections in-home care are so helpful for us. Thanks for sharing this.

  33. I like your suggestion to have the discussion about home care before the need reaches the stage where it becomes a crisis. My siblings and I can no longer spend as much time with our mom as she needs and we think home health care will become necessary within the next couple of months or so. I’m glad I read your article so I can start thinking about the best way to have the conversation now instead of later.

  34. It helps a lot when you mention the importance of discussing home care with a senior as soon as you notice any changes in their daily lives. Ever since my grandfather passed away last spring, I have noticed that my grandmother has been having trouble remembering where she is when she wakes up in the morning. Perhaps I should find a home care service that can help ensure that she is safe.

  35. It makes me more genuine to deal with seniors. I am searching for some home apparatuses that would be useful for seniors at home. My better half and I have been considering employing somebody to come and assist take with the minding of my mother since we both have truly insane work routines. I feel that these tips will truly assist us in beginning the conversation with her.

  36. My uncle has been thinking about talking to his grandfather about getting some care. Making sure that he gets the care he needs could be really useful, and help him to be more productive. Thanks for the tips you had about how they can still make decisions affecting their care, so that they can keep calm while talking about some better care services.

  37. My mom definitely needs home care. But she has been independent most of her life. I’ll take your advice to talk to her about home care during the most relaxed time of day. Hopefully she won’t fight me as much.

  38. Thank you so much for this post. I love the part where you talk about” Keep it calm. Pick the least stressful, most relaxed time of day to discuss the option of home care in more depth. Broaching the subject at the end of the day as you’re rushing to get dinner on the table, when everyone is hungry and tired, will probably bring about less than desired results.“. I have found some worthy guides on this website: https://ap2bhomecare.com

  39. Thank you for your suggestions for how to bring this all up. We’ve been wondering how to talk to our grandma about home care. We’ll be sure to try this out and see if it helps us to get her the help she needs.

  40. I like how you mentioned that it is important to communicate with your senior to avoid misunderstandings. A friend of mine mentioned to me last night he is planning to find a reliable in-home personal caregiver for his mother and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I’ll be sure to tell him that it will be much better if he consults a trusted concierge senior management service in town as they can answer all his inquiries.

  41. Home care is indeed a good option as it facilitates the seniors to be taken care in the environment they are used to and are comfortable. Caregivers must understand what the seniors want and one must choose cargivers who consider your parents as their parents not just a source of money,

  42. Thank you for explaining that as soon as you begin to catch small shifts in your elder’s daily living abilities, slowly and gently begin to initiate a conversation about needing nursing care. My parents are looking for a way to assist my grandmother’s needs, especially when no one is home. I think getting a home health aide is the best solution to ensure that grandmother’s needs are being attained.

  43. It’s awesome that this article talked about once you’ve determined that hiring an agency to provide in home care for seniors is the best option to keep your senior loved one safe, healthy and socially engaged, you may run into a stumbling block when it’s time to bring your loved one fully on board with the idea. I’m glad that you explain it thoroughly and now it makes more sense. You did a great job of explaining home healthcare services.

  44. Good article! I see your points as being valid and I appreciate the way you expressed yourself in this material. after reading this article i get to know that more about home care services and it’s amazing

  45. You make a great point about picking the least stressful time of the day to make your appointment. I need to get a doctor to check out my heart health. It keeps beating faster than normal.

  46. Such a nice article! Yes, it is true that we all do something good for our senior members in the house. I always take care of my aging parents and I hope these tips will prove to be very helpful for me or my old parents. Thanks for sharing these tips!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.



Contact Us to Learn More!

Want to find out more about our senior care in California and how it can improve safety, comfort, and independence at home? Contact us at (866) 940-4343 to request a free in-home consultation to learn more about our customized care solutions in Novato, Pleasanton, Santa Rosa, Napa, Sonoma, and the surrounding areas.


From Our Blog:

Click on any of the posts to the left to explore our blogposts. Thanks for visiting!

The Emotional Journey of End-of-Life Eating Changes

When a loved one is approaching the end of life, every moment becomes even more meaningful, but it can also be a time...

What You Need to Know About End-of-Life Dementia Care

Caring for a loved one as they near the end of life is an incredibly personal journey. When Alzheimer’s disease is part of...

The Importance of a Daily Routine for Someone With Dementia

Have you ever woken up from a dream feeling completely disoriented? The dream seemed so real, and it takes a moment to regain...