17 Jun Give the Gift of Caregiving for Father’s Day
For Father’s Day, many consider the usual list of gifts, like grilling accessories, craft beer, tools, etc. But as your dad ages and begins to have difficulty with daily activities of living, a great gift could be in-home care.
Is it time to consider in-home care?
The last thing you want is to wait until it’s too late to get your father or aging loved one help. For instance, if they get injured from a slip or fall, create a potential hazard by forgetting to turn the oven off, or have a medical emergency. However, there are more benefits to caregiving beyond helping someone who is sick or can’t take care of themselves, like companionship and providing support where it’s lacking.
Below are some common services that caregivers provide. If you notice your dad struggling with any of activities, then in-home care might be a good consideration.
- Personal hygiene assistance (including assistance with bathing, toileting, and grooming)
- Transfer and ambulation assistance throughout the home
- Home management, cleaning and laundry
- Transportation
- Bathing and showering
- Assistance with light range-of-motion or muscle-strengthening exercises
- Assistance with eating, meal preparation, and grocery shopping
- Assistance with dressing
- Assistance with self-administered medications
Having the talk.
It might be difficult for your father to hear that he might need assistance with simple things that were once easy for him to do. Many people do not like the idea of relying on others to help them and fear losing their independence. However, with in-home care you actually make this independence more possible and, most importantly, safe. By assisting with daily activities of living, caregivers allow aging adults to continue living comfortably in their own home – just as they were before.
If you are considering talking with your dad about in-home care, here are some ways you can approach the conversation with honesty and understanding:
- Talk with him about the advantages
- Focus on the independence he can gain
- Take time to understand any fears or concerns he might have
- Release the pressure by agreeing to “test things out”
- Focus on what he wants, not what he needs
- Make him feel like he’s a part of the decision-making
- Bring in help from a third party care manager who can provide good advice specifically tailored to your dad’s needs
Whether it’s time to consider in-home care with your dad or not, we hope you have a wonderful and loving Father’s Day together.
If you’d like to learn more about our caregiving services and set up an appointment, contact us here.
