Elder Care in Apex NC

Communication is one of the most important skills that you can have as a family caregiver. Being able to communicate effectively with your loved one is how you identify and evaluate their specific needs and challenges, establish and implement care plans, address difficulties and issues as they arise, and keep your relationship with them close and meaningful. As important as communication is, sometimes it can be challenging to communicate effectively. This is especially true if you or your parent do not have personalities that are naturally talkative or open. Working on this skill, however, can dramatically improve your care journey and your parent’s chances of a high quality of life moving forward.

Use these tips to help you improve your communication with your elderly loved one:

Be careful of your body language. When talking with your parent, be aware not just of what you say, but how you say it. This means being aware of your body language and how it impacts how your parent perceives what you are saying to them. Keep your body turned toward them as much as possible, avoid crossing your arms or putting your hands on your hips, and nod occasionally to show that you are engaged in what they are saying.
Get rid of distractions. While you can and should talk to your parent at any point throughout the day, such as when you are in the car or while watching TV, if you need to discuss something pressing or important, get rid of the distractions. Turn off the TV or radio, put down your phone, and stop doing other tasks that take your attention away from the conversation. This engages you fully in the topic and shows that you are interested and invested.
Use directed listening. Especially if you are having an important conversation about something you need to express to your parent, it is easy to monopolize the conversation and think that what you are saying is the most important part. Take a step back and focus on using listening skills. Truly listen to what your parent says to you and use it to fuel the conversation forward rather than just glossing over it and moving on in the way that you think you should.

Starting elder care for your aging parent can be one of the most caring, compassionate, and impactful decisions that you can make for them throughout your caregiver journey with them. Far from an indication that you do not want to care for your aging parent, or that you do not care if they receive what they need, hiring an elderly home care services provider is about making sure that your parent lives the highest quality of life possible while staying safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy. The highly personalized services of an elder care provider are tailored specifically to your parent’s needs as well as their lifestyle, goals, and existing care routine with you. This means that whether you are able to be in the home with your parent on a daily basis or live at a distance and are not able to be with them frequently, you can rest assured that they are getting the care, support, and assistance that they need to maintain an active, fulfilling, and healthy lifestyle throughout their later years.