Help Your Mom Adjust to Her Caregiver

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If your mom is not used to people helping her with daily chores, her first day with a caregiver may seem stressful to her. Help her adjust to elder care services by following these tips.

Walk Your Mom Through What Will Happen

Elder Care Morris County NJ - Help Your Mom Adjust to Her Caregiver

Elder Care Morris County NJ – Help Your Mom Adjust to Her Caregiver

Walk your mom through what’s going to happen on the days she has elder care services. Start by going over what time the caregiver arrives and what the caregiver is there to do. See if your mom has questions.

Talk to her about what time the caregiver will leave. Is she going to be alone or will a family member be stopping by? If someone is coming to relieve her caregiver, make sure she knows who is taking over.

If she has things she likes to do on her own, make sure she knows the caregiver isn’t there to take over. The caregiver is there to support her goal of living independently at home. When she needs help from her caregiver, all she needs to do is ask.

Be Available Without Taking the Lead

On the first day the caregiver helps your mom, be around for support. At the same time, stay out of the way and let the caregiver take the lead. If your mom has space you could use as a home office, that’s a good way to handle things.

While you’re working, keep the door closed. If something happens, the caregiver can knock on the door and ask. If the caregiver needs your assistance calming your mom down or getting her to listen, you can step in and help out at that point.

There needs to be an adjustment as your mom learns to rely on the caregiver. If you’re in the same room, your mom is more likely to lean on you. Distancing yourself from the situation is important in the first few days.

Let Her Be Part of the Decision Making

Don’t make the arrangements on your own. Talk over her options with her before you call an agency. Go through her daily routine and ask her where she struggles. Compare that list to the elder care services that are available in her area. See what she thinks about each.

If she’s part of planning the elder care services, it will help her with the transition to having caregivers come to her home to help out. Once you know what she wants, call an agency. Go over any questions and make sure your mom is part of the decision process.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Elder Care Services in Morris County NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP