Tips For Talking To Your Senior Parent About Companion Care

By James Hughes | September 19, 2024 |

Companion care at home services offers needed support to seniors and family caregivers.

If your senior parent is living alone and you are worried that they are lonely at home, companion care at home can help. Companion care at home is specialized care for seniors that focuses on making sure seniors are getting the social interaction they need to stay physically and mentally healthy.

Typically, companion care at home is focused on a care provider visiting your mom or dad on a regular schedule and doing activities with them like sharing meals, having conversations, doing arts and crafts, playing cards or board games, and interacting in meaningful ways.

Companion care at home is wonderful for seniors who can’t easily get out of the house, especially if you live too far away to visit them regularly. But, getting your senior parent on board for companion care at home services can be a challenge. Often, seniors don’t like to admit they’re lonely, and many fight the idea of companion care.

If you want to talk to your mom or dad about companion care at home but you’re worried they won’t be open to the idea, use these tips to open a productive dialog about companion care at home:

Choose the Right Time and Place

Find a calm, comfortable setting where your parent feels relaxed. Avoid bringing up the topic during stressful moments or when they are tired or upset. For most seniors, it’s best to have discussions about topics like this in the morning after they have had breakfast.

Express Concern, Not Criticism

Frame the conversation around your love and concern for their well-being. Emphasize that you want to ensure they are happy, safe, and not isolated rather than implying they don’t have any friends or aren’t sociable enough.

Don’t shame them for not being able to get out of the house easily. Focus on companion care at home as a solution. Explain to your mom or dad how companion care can make their lives better.

Involve Them in the Decision

Empower your mom or dad by involving them in the decision-making process. Ask for their input on what type of help they might need and how often they would like someone to visit.

Let them know they can make the decision about who their companion will be, and if they don’t like a particular person or don’t feel a connection, they can try another companion.

Focus on the Positive of Companion Care at Home

Highlight the benefits of companion care at home, such as having someone to talk to, help with activities they enjoy, or assist with small tasks that might be difficult for them. Remind them that it can be very relaxing to have someone to chat with over dinner or while watching TV.

Use Examples and Stories

Share examples or stories of other seniors who have benefited from companion care. Sometimes, hearing about positive experiences from others can make the idea more acceptable.

If relatives, friends, or neighbors in the community have used companion care, make sure to share their experiences with your mom or dad.

Start with a Trial Period

Suggest starting with a trial period or a few hours a week to ease them into the idea. This can help your mom or dad experience the benefits without feeling like it’s a permanent change.

If you or someone you know needs Companion Care at Home in Bay Minette, AL, please contact the friendly caregivers at  Hughes Home Care. We provide quality and affordable care for your elderly loved ones in our community. Serving Mobile & Baldwin County. Call us today at (251) 517-9901

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James Hughes

Owner at Hughes Home Care

James Hughes is a graduate of The University of Alabama (Health Care Administration), the University Of Alabama, Birmingham (Physical Therapy) and is a Navy veteran.

He has three teenage children and are actively involved in their church and community – James coach’s youth football, basketball and baseball and serves at 3 Circle Church. He is a member of the Fairhope Youth Football Board and the Rock Creek POA Board.

It is his passion and commitment to providing quality and responsive service that has made their company the fastest growing home care agency in South Alabama.

He believes that being an independently owned and operated company gives him the flexibility to manage his business in a way that better serves their clients.

He understands that you have a choice of care providers and he will do his utmost to earn your trust.