How to talk to elderly parents about home care

Try as I might, my grandfather would not listen to me when I repeatedly and gently told him he needed some support if he wanted to keep living in his own home.

Never mind that I own Arcadia Home Care and have arranged quality home care for many other seniors for over a decade. But did my grandfather listen to a stranger and accept his suggestion to get some help at home? Yes, indeed he did!

No matter how intelligent and accomplished you may be, a senior parent will tend to see you as you were: as a sweet child, or as a rebellious teenager, or a radical student. Mom or Dad will not see you as you are today, even if they have been consistently supportive of your career and accomplishments. However, when a stranger chats about the possibility of a new role for the senior, opportunities often abound, and solutions are found.

But you have to ask yourself an important question. Are you able to let go? Are you willing to hand over this vital discussion to a stranger? To surrender power is difficult, often even harder for those more successful. And, are you able to admit that you can no longer provide all the support your parents need? After all, we have faith in ourselves that it is possible to manage our loved ones and our own life.

Perhaps it becomes a question of character; we are as strong as the word we gave to assist our parents. Maybe this is one responsibility that we are unwilling to offload because of our role model for our children. Or perhaps it is a matter of willpower to manage our stressful career and still be the good daughter or son.



Arcadia Home Care can help you talk to your parents about finding new ways to cope with an increasingly difficult situation. And, it is always our priority to involve you in designing and executing the care your parents need. You will also have access to a 24/7 care log to help you assess the services provided. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to start the conversation. Call one of our Care Managers at (416) 977 0050 ext 1 for more information about our flexible, customizable home care plans.