Communicating with your aging parent

ComForcare

Communicating With Your Aging Parent

HOME CARE

Call ComForcare at 800-886-4044 www.ComForcare.com

If Your Parents are in Their 60s or 70s, It’s Time to Talk

It’s never too soon to talk

about health care preferences

and medical treatment options

with your parents.

Knowing your parents’ wishes

eliminates the burden of being

the head of the family or sole

decision maker during a time

of crisis.


When to Talk to Your Parents

Health and age-related issues are

often avoided in our society. These

conversations are necessary, but

hard for many adult children.

Whether you are a family caregiver,

an adult child who lives far away

from a loved one or simply a busy

person, these talks should happen

before a health-related situation

arises.


Tips for a Successful and Productive Family Care Meeting

• Prepare and distribute an agenda prior to the

meeting. Ask your parents to prioritize the

topics.

• Provide options and facts for each topic so

everyone feels more confident about their

choices.

• Don’t go into the meeting with mandates –

listen first and question second.



• If the discussion becomes heated and conflicts

cannot be resolved, stop for now and resume

the conversation another time.

• Look for solutions that maximize the parent’s

independence. Focus on strengths and

address contingency plans.



• Avoid “baby talk” or using a condescending

tone. It puts people on the defensive and shows

a lack of respect.

• Consider bringing in a third party with expertise

in health-related issues. A geriatric care

manager, nurse, social worker or home care

provider may be able to assist you.

ComForcare Home Care A premier provider of private duty home care services

with locations throughout the United States and in Canada and the U.K.

For a location near you, call:

800-886-4044

Supporting independence, dignity and quality of life

ComForcare Home Care 2510 Telegraph Road, Suite 100

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

www.ComForcare.com

http://www.comforcare.com/

Health & Medicine

Communicating with your aging parent