Your dad shouldn’t be driving anymore, but he won’t give up the car keys.
Your mom can no longer keep the house clean, but she refuses to hire a cleaning lady.
Both of your parents could use a little assistance with day-to-day tasks, but when you bring up the idea of hiring a professional, in-home caregiver, they quickly shut down the conversation.
“It’s something we encounter a lot – older adults stubbornly resisting any kind of help. Of course, some of them are in denial, but most are embarrassed or too proud to admit they can no longer do it all,” said Mark Goetz, co-founder and president of Trail Ridge Home Care’s partner, the HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN). “They’ve spent years enjoying an independent lifestyle – working, raising families, traveling and making decisions for themselves. Understandably, they don’t want to lose that independence, so convincing them to accept help can be very challenging.”
Continue reading When Your Aging Loved Ones Need (But Won’t Accept) Help