You may not realize just how stubborn your senior family member is until you’re trying to convince her to do something that would truly help her. How you handle the situation can make a huge difference for both of you.
Change Is Easier When it’s Self-motivated
You might have noticed in your own life that change is so much easier when you’re the one making the change. Your senior is the same way. If she’s not the one coming up with the idea for these changes, it’s going to be so much more difficult for her to get excited about them, much less to implement them. If you can figure out a way to convince your senior that your ideas are actually hers, you might experience some results but that’s easier said than done.
Sometimes Things Have to Get Worse First
Most of the time the changes you’re suggesting have to do with helping your elder to manage health that’s worsening or situations that are becoming more difficult for her to handle on her own. The problem is that your aging family member may feel that she can still manage these situations just fine. It can take the situation worsening even more to get your senior’s attention. This is really difficult to watch as her caregiver, but you can only help as much as she’ll allow you to help.
Actively Look for Opportunities
Instead of pushing, wait for opportunities in which your elderly family member seems more open to talking about the difficulties she’s facing. You may not experience results every time that you bring up the topic, so you may have to back off again. But if you’re actively looking for these opportunities, it’s easier to jump in with potential solutions.
Have Options Available
Part of looking for opportunities is to have some options available the second that your aging family member is ready to entertain them. Do your research now on home care services providers and determine how quickly you can get them on board. Figure out what else can help your senior and look for a plan that allows you to put those options in place as quickly as you can.
Keep in mind that it’s highly unlikely that your loved one is resisting your ideas and help simply to be stubborn. Your elderly family member may feel as if she’s losing parts of herself and her independence every time she has to give in to these changes. Keeping an understanding heart can help you to cope.