ComForcare

Communicating With Your Aging Parents

HOME CARE

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

Communicating with Your Aging Parents

If your parents are in their 60s or 70s, it’s time to initiate an important conversation.

It’s never too soon to talk about health care preferences, medical treatment options and living arrangements.

Planning eliminates the burden of being the head of the family or sole decision maker during a crisis.

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

Communicating with Your Aging Parents

Health and age-related issues are often avoided in our society. While the conversations are necessary, they are hard for many adult children to initiate.

Whether you are the family caregiver, an adult child who lives far from a loved one, or are already juggling family and career, the “talk” needs to occur before a health-related situation arises.

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

Communicating with Your Aging Parents

Talk with your parents about their:

• Health

• Finances

• Living Arrangements

• End-of-Life Preferences

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

Tips for Holding a Successful and Productive Family Care Meeting

• Prepare and distribute an agenda prior to the meeting. Allow your parents to prioritize the topics.

• Provide options and facts for each topic so both the parents and children feel more comfortable and confident about choices made.

• Don’t have mandates; listen first and question second.

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

Tips for Holding a Successful and Productive Family Care Meeting

• If the discussion becomes heated and issues are not resolved, plan to revisit the subject another day.

• Look for solutions that maximize your parents’ independence. Focus on their strengths and address contingency plans.

• Avoid “baby talk.” It shows a lack of respect and will put your parents on the defensive.

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

Tips for Holding a Successful and Productive Family Care Meeting

• Consider using a third party with expertise in aging and health-related issues.

A geriatric care manager, nurse, social worker or home care provider may be able to assist you.

ComForcare Home CareA premier provider of private duty home care services

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

For a location near you, call:

800-886-4044

Supporting independence, dignity and quality of life

ComForcare Home Care2510 Telegraph Road, Suite 100

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

www.ComForcare.com