If you’re wondering how to talk to aging parents about elder care, there are some key tips to keep in mind. First, treat your aging parents with respect. It’s important to avoid passive-aggressiveness and finger-pointing. Secondly, plan for future declines. This will help you avoid anger and hurt feelings. Lastly, remember that you are not the authority and your parents have a right to make their own decisions.
Treating aging parents with respect
If you want to avoid conflict with your parents when discussing the subject of elder care, it’s important to treat them with respect and dignity. While a parent’s decisions will depend on many factors, the way you approach them can make all the difference. Here are a few tips to help you handle these discussions.
First, try to understand your parent’s needs and feelings. Remember, aging parents often have many issues, including mental health issues, dementia, and anxiety. By understanding their needs, you can prevent negative emotions. Also, try to ask them questions about their behavior, such as if they think they’ve lost their independence.
Avoiding finger-pointing
It’s important to avoid finger-pointing when talking to aging parents, especially if they’re in a weakened state. You might feel that they need help, but try to convey your genuine concern and offer to help in whatever ways you can. If you’re worried that they’ll feel like a burden, you can always bring up the issue with a third party.
Siblings should also be involved in elder care planning. It’s crucial to include them in the discussion, even if they have different ideas about what to do. It also helps to schedule time to discuss care issues. Starting early will help alleviate the pressure of discussing everything in one meeting.
Avoid being passive-aggressive
Avoiding passive-aggressiveness is critical when talking to aging parents about elder care. This can be difficult when family dynamics are involved. Family members may argue and point fingers, but try to approach the discussion with respect and focus on the issues at hand. It’s important to remember that everyone in the family is trying to keep their parent healthy.
If the situation is serious, don’t be afraid to get help. If your parent is physically or mentally abusing you, consider consulting with a professional. It may be necessary to have respite from the caregiving role.
Planning ahead for future declines
While preparing for future declines may seem like a daunting task, it is important to have a plan for addressing future health care needs for your parents. These plans will help you make wise decisions and ensure that the family is on the same page. Moreover, planning ahead will alleviate stress and pressure that may be placed on the parents and family.
Creating a medical power of attorney and living will is a great way to help your aging parents manage their care. However, it’s important to get a professional’s opinion about this matter. Consult an elder law attorney or other professional to understand your parent’s wishes. Once you have a health care proxy, it’s a good idea to discuss decisions with him or her. If you can, make sure that the individual you choose is comfortable making decisions for your parent.
Planning for end-of-life care
When talking to aging parents, it’s a good idea to discuss end-of-life care planning. It’s important to discuss the decision-making process and who should be notified of the diagnosis. If your parents are aware of the illness, ask them who they would like to help them. If not, you can always choose not to let them know. Doctors will often inform the family of the illness.
While end-of-life care planning may seem like a tough topic to address, it’s important to talk about it with your aging parents to make sure their wishes are followed. This conversation can reduce unnecessary family conflict and minimize the risk of futile medical treatments and unwanted interventions. Even though it’s difficult to bring up the subject of death, the benefits of addressing the topic early on are significant.
If you have any questions about talking to aging parents contact one of the Attorneys at The Narrows Law Group.