How to Manage Denial of Assistance for Seniors with Loss of Independence
2023-04-01
Seniors may feel they lose their independence when receiving home care
The provision of assistance and home care by a third party may be perceived as intrusion. Accepting to be helped means becoming aware of the loss of autonomy and the difficulties of everyday life. It is not easy to feel dependent on a third party to perform tasks previously performed independently.
This can result in resistance or even a complete refusal to be helped, either out of pride or shame. In the face of a refusal of gender, it is important to secure the person’s identity. To facilitate its acceptance, it must be recognized for what it is as an individual and not as a ”sick”, ”beneficiary” or ”dependent person”.
Potential solutions exist…
Here are some other practical tips:
- Do not impose: Avoid imposing assistance on the elderly. The quality of home care requires the consent and free choice of the person.
- Getting the senior to realize that they need help: Discuss with the family member who is being helped the difficulties they face on a day-to-day basis to get the need for home help admitted. It should also be explained that loss of autonomy is not a personal failure, but is part of the natural cycle of life. The senior must realize that his whole family is worried and wants to find solutions to help him in the best way, and thus allow home support in the best conditions
- Presenting the benefits of being helped: For many dependent seniors, the main fear is leaving their homes. Explain to your loved one how the intervention of a professional caregiver will help maintain their autonomy and allow them to stay at home as long as possible. In addition, our caregivers work to support seniors so that they maintain their independence as much as possible. This is done by performing the tasks together, at the pace of the elder
- Portray the caregiver as a journeyperson and not an employee: the elder does not want to feel like a patient receiving help and care from a health care facility. He will be much more receptive to the idea of receiving help from a caregiver like you. Choose a professional caregiver who will have a personality and interests similar to your loved one. This will create a friendly relationship that will be more easily created and will allow a better acceptance of help after a few visits
- Propose a trial: Don’t ask your loved one to make a final decision immediately about the type of help and care they are receiving. A first trial visit will give your loved one the chance to test and know what is best for them. Allow them to choose. It is important that there is a good complicity between the professional caregiver and your loved one. A successful trial can change your loved one’s perception of home care and care.
…thanks to Amika
With Amika, there are no opening fees and no long-term commitments. In addition, we are paying particular attention to job shadowing between carers and helpers to facilitate a smooth transition.
If your loved one continues to refuse help and care, do not hesitate to involve their family doctor. They may be more willing to be receptive to that kind of service.
More information about our approach and services is available here:
https://www.soinsamika.com/en/services or by contacting us at 514-543-4450 ext. 1
You can also visit our frequently asked questions section:
https://www.soinsamika.com/en/about/
