8 ways to introduce in-home care for seniors

How to get your loved one to accept in-home care so you can take a break from caring

You desperately need regular breaks, but your loved one absolutely refuses an in-home carer. What can you do?

In-home care for seniors offers a compassionate and practical solution for aging individuals seeking to maintain their independence and quality of life. This personalised care option brings professional caregivers into the senior’s own residence, providing assistance with daily tasks, medication management, and companionship. It enables seniors to age in a familiar and comfortable environment, promoting emotional well-being and reducing the risk of isolation. In-home care plans are customizable to suit individual needs, from occasional help to 24/7 support, ensuring a tailored approach. This service not only enhances seniors’ physical health but also nurtures their emotional and mental well-being, fostering a sense of dignity and autonomy in their golden years.

Seniors often won’t admit they need help, even when they’re struggling with everyday tasks. In-home care can be a sensitive subject that can sometimes lead to arguments or, in worse cases, can cause an immediate shutdown when you bring it up. 

Chances are, the person you’re caring for might see it as a waste of money, an insult to their abilities, or an invasion of privacy. However, by being delicate in your approach and making a two-way conversation, there are a myriad ways in which to both broach the subject and make the transition easier. 

So we’ve put together 8 helpful tips on how to overcome this challenge and make in-home care for seniors more amenable – even if your loved one initially said no.

8 ways to ease into in-home care for seniors

Start slowly and allow time for them to get used to the idea
The person you’re caring for might need time to adjust to the idea of having someone in their house. To ease the transition, start off slowly. At first, suggest that the helper only comes a few hours each week and focuses on less personal tasks. Then, add hours and additional tasks as your loved one becomes more comfortable with both the idea and the person.

Listen to your older adult’s fears and reasons they don’t want in-home care
Instead of shutting down objections right away, let your loved one express their feelings. They’re more likely to cooperate when they’ve been heard and know that their opinion matters. Understanding their concerns will also help you address those fears. Even better, involve them in the hiring process so they can help choose the person who will be caring for them.

Help them retain dignity by saying it’s for you, not them
If you present the idea of in-home care as something that helps you rather than them, they might be more receptive. That way, they’re less likely to feel that they’re losing independence or aren’t capable.

Use the doctor’s authority
Many older adults respect authority figures like doctors and may be more willing to accept home care if they think the doctor has prescribed it. Consider book a consultation with your loved one’s doctor so they can chime in with supporting advice.

Use housekeeping needs as an excuse
Pretending that you need help with housekeeping and other chores is another way to ease an in-home carer into the house. That makes it seem like it’s about your needs rather than theirs.

Pretend that it’s a free service
If your older adult isn’t directly paying for in-home care, you could pretend that it’s free. It might make it more likely that they’ll be open to it since they’ll be taking advantage of a free service.

Introduce the carer as a friend
Another approach is to introduce the in-home carer as a friend of yours who needs some company. That takes away the stigma of needing help and helps them trust the carer.

Tell them it’s a temporary arrangement
It may be more acceptable to start using in-home care if your loved one thinks it’s only temporary. Once the in-home carer becomes a part of their routine and they adjust to the idea, it’ll be easier to continue using the services.