Talking to Your Children About Your Senior’s Alzheimer’s Disease
You’re aging loved ones diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is a life-changing moment not just for them, but for the people around them as well. As their family caregiver, it is important for you to understand the impact this disease can have on your entire family, particularly your children.
Home Care Services Chester PA – Talking to Your Children About Your Senior’s Alzheimer’s Disease
It can be difficult for children to fully understand what is happening to their grandparent, or why you need to care for them. The changes they undergo, and those to your schedule and routine, can be upsetting and confusing to them. Taking the time to talk to your children about your senior alzheimer’s disease helps them to better understand the condition, how it will progress, and the care you give.
Use these tips to talk to your children about your senior’s Alzheimer’s disease:
Be honest. Children are much more resilient than most people give them credit for. Approach your children honestly and openly, and give them information in an age-appropriate way that does not “sugar coat” or over-simplify. This can just cause further confusion and upset later.
Be thorough. Allow your aging parent plenty of time and space to ask questions about the condition, your parent’s progression, or your care. Give them thorough answers, and work with them to research what you might not know.
Be supportive. Understand that this situation can be confusing and upsetting to your children, and they might not react well. They might be frustrated, and even act out because you aren’t around as much. They might be afraid of your parent and not want to spend time with them at first. Be supportive of your children, and remember they still need you as well.
Be encouraging. Your children might respond differently than you think. You might find that they are interested in the care you give, and want to help. If this happens, encourage them to be an active part of your care for your parent. Just spending time with them, reading, doing crafts, and other such activities can be tremendously beneficial for both of them.
Starting home care services for your aging loved one can be one of the best decisions you can make for both their own quality of life, and for you as their family caregiver. For your aging parent, having the custom services of a home care services provider available means they are able to manage their challenges and needs, while also pursuing as much independence and autonomy as possible. For you, knowing your senior has access to this care relieves your stress, and allows you to focus on other elements of your life.
These home care services can include safe and reliable transportation, companionship, assistance with grocery shopping, meal preparation, medication reminders, help with personal care needs and activities of daily living, and more.
Sources: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/stages
https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Chester PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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