Seven Tips to Help Adult Children Communicate With Their Ageing Parents

Many adult children of aging adults know how difficult it can be to talk with their parents about certain topics. Home Instead Senior Care, Ireland’s most trusted source of home care have shared tips to help family caregivers communicate with their ageing parents on sensitive subjects.

1. Get Started – If you’re 40 or your parents are 70, it’s time to start observing and gathering information carefully and thoughtfully. Don’t reach a conclusion from a single observation and decide on the best solution until you have gathered information with an open mind and talked with your parents.
2. Talk it out – Approach your parents with a conversation. Discuss what you’ve observed and ask your parents what they think is going on. If your parents acknowledge the situation, ask what they think would be good solutions. If your parents don’t recognise a problem, use concrete examples to support your case.
3. Sooner is best – Talk sooner rather than later when a crisis has occurred. If you know your loved one has poor eyesight or has trouble driving at night, begin to address those issues before a problem arises.
4. Forget the Baby Talk – Remember you are talking to an adult, not a child. Patronising speech or baby talk will put older adults on the defensive and convey a lack of respect for them. Put yourself in your parents’ shoes and think of how you would want to be addressed in the situation.
5. Maximise the Independence – Always try to move toward solutions that provide the maximum amount of independence for the older person. Look for answers that optimise strengths and compensate for problems. For instance, if your loved ones need help at home, look for tools that can help them maintain their strengths. Professional caregiving services, such as those offered by Home Instead Senior Care, provide assistance in a number of areas including meal preparation, light housekeeping or medication reminders. Or find friends who can help.
6. Be aware of the whole situation – If your dad dies and soon afterward your mum’s house seems to be in disarray, it’s probably not because she suddenly became ill. It’s much more likely to stem from a lack of social support and the loss of a life-long relationship. Make sure that your mom has friends and a social life.
7. Ask for Help – Many of the issues of aging can be solved by providing parents with the support they need to continue to maintain their independence. Home care providers like Home Instead Senior Care can help provide those solutions.

– For further information on home care options and more great information, visit www.homeinstead.ie.