Four Tips For You To Help Elderly Fathers Who Will Not Accept Personal Care

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The Australian Human Rights Commission estimates that when it comes to Australians aged over 85, 75 percent of this population group continues to live in their own homes. However, when it comes to persuading elderly parents to accept personal care help if they want to remain living independently, then some children face quite an argument. It is understandable that elderly parents want to continue doing things for themselves, as giving up this control is an admittance that their bodies are not as cooperative as they once were. If you are someone who knows their dad needs personal care assistance but has refused help so far, you need help in convincing your family member that this is the best way forward. Here are four tips to help you in your conversation with your dad about personal care options.

Always Be Patient

Have you ever had a conversation with a small child that got frustrating because they became more stubborn the more you tried to reason with them? While you should not compare conversations with your dad to that of a small child, the stubbornness gene does exist in both age groups. There are a number of reasons why your father doesn't want a personal carer in their home. It could be a mistrust of strangers, or it could be that they don't want to expose their body to somebody they do not know. Whatever the reason, patience is needed to get to the root of their reluctance.

Have Plenty Of Options

The more options you have available for your father when it comes to personal care, the more likely it is you will come across an idea they are agreeable to. For example, if your dad finds the idea of a personal carer intimidating, start off with them only taking care of things around the house that don't involve his body. Meal preparation, running errands, medication dispensing and general tidying are all things a personal carer can do for your dad to start off with. Once he gets more comfortable with the person and their presence, then you could slowly have hair care and grooming including as part of the carer's tasks.

Allow Them To Interview The Carer

For your father to allow a personal carer into their home and be a part of their life, they need to be comfortable with the personality of the carer. In order for this comfort to be achieved, your dad should be included in the interview process. While you may think you know the type of person who is best to be in the home, at the end of the day your dad is the one who needs to interact with them, so be sure to only schedule interviews for a time when your parent is available to take part.

Be Prepared For Setbacks

If you do manage to get your parent to accept personal care help, it does not mean the battle is over. It is going to take time, patience and understanding for your dad to get used to having someone new helping around the home. This situation also falls under the be patient category. You cannot rush your parent into accepting this change in living situation. Be flexible and available while your dad gets used to their carer. Both your father and the carer will have concerns that need discussing and action, so tackle each situation calmly as it arises.

Your home health care service who provides the carer has additional tips to help your parent adapt to receiving personal care in the home. It may take a few months for your dad to appreciate the difference care makes to their life, but eventually, they will appreciate and value the help they receive.

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2 October 2018

Staying Healthy from the Inside Out

Thanks for visiting my health blog! My name's Caroline. A few years ago, I started to notice changes in my appearance. My hair was dull, my eyes were circled with dark rings, and my skin was looking like it used to when I was a teenager. When cosmetic treatments didn't fix things, I realised the problem wasn't on the outside of my body—it was on the inside! That's when I started researching how to keep myself healthy. To my surprise, improving my internal health really worked. A few years down the line, I feel and look better than ever, and I'm ready to share what I've learned with all of you.