Darlene shook her head. ?I was back before Christmas. Mom just wasn?t managing her diabetes very well. And then in January, she got the flu. March, she?s in the hospital again with her sugar. That?s four trips in six months ? my job was getting pretty upset, and the kids were having a tough time ? and I just didn?t know what to do.?
Trying to make sure your parents are healthy and safe is obviously a top priority ? but it?s a task that can be made far more difficult by distance. Another issue that makes life difficult is the sometimes awkward dynamic that arises when children become more active in their parent?s healthcare.
?Mom?s always taken care of me, but now the situation is different,? Darlene said. ?I wasn?t really sure that Mother was understanding what she needed to know about her diabetes ? I was positive she was confused about testing her sugar and taking her insulin properly ? but who was I going to talk to about it??
Elder Care Advice for Talking With Your Parents about Their Healthcare
Our parents have been making their own health care decisions for much of their life. They may not welcome the idea of involving their children in their health care, but clearly there are times when elder care help is needed. The families that navigate this transition most effectively are those in which the adult children are prepared to take on a supporting, rather than a controlling, role.
Always remember that your parents want to maintain their independence. Think of yourselves in their shoes: who would you want knowing the most intimate details of your physical health? It?s not always easy to admit that you need elder care help. Talking early and often with your parents about their health care makes the process more natural and comfortable for the entire family.
You?ll find that most health care providers are willing to work with you (or your designee) to share information in a way that promotes your parent?s health while maintaining their independence and dignity. This can include information about diagnosis, medication and treatment recommendations, elder care advice for suggested diets and more.
Providing elder care help for your parent?s health can become very time consuming, especially if they?ve had a health crisis or you live a great distance away. In that case, working with an eldercare professional allows you to remain fully aware of what?s going on with your parent without having to do the front line work of coordinating appointments, arranging transportation to doctor?s visits, getting prescriptions filled, and all of the other health care tasks yourself.
?Mom wouldn?t listen to me when I told her she needed to check her blood sugar, but she?d listen to Maggie, her in-home care provider,? Darlene said. ?There are resources out there that will allow you to be involved in your parent?s healthcare, even if you live far away.?
Darlene?s most recent trip to see her mother came in July. ?It was so nice just to be able to visit her, knowing her health situation was being handled properly. We could just visit, and it was so wonderful!?
Every senior is different, with their own unique health situations and care preferences. Working with an experienced elder care provider will help you identify and access the resources you need to make sure your parents stay healthy and happy. Are you ready to learn more? Contact me today! I?m happy to answer your questions.
Source: http://basseldercare.com/article/how-involved-should-you-be-in-your-parent%E2%80%99s-healthcare/
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