Domiciliary Care in later life may or may not be on your mind, but it's a good idea to get to know different types of care and start talking to your family about home care options in advance. Elderly care is a sensitive topic and many families choose to ignore this subject until the time comes when you need immediate care - this could be an accident, or a progressive disease. Your family is then forced to make a decision on your behalf if they have Power of Attorney, or a health care professional may make the decision for the whole family - and it may not be the option which you would have wanted yourself.
Now is a great time to talk to you children about care in later life - before an emergency happens, and the family needs to act out of fear or worry. We wanted to help guide you start the conversation about elderly care with your family - here are useful tips from our specialist live-in care team:
Time
Choose the right time to talk to your family about home care. Don't bring the topic of livein care up during a special family holiday or event, or a long journey when everyone is tired. The conversation will be received much better if everyone is relaxed - how about over an afternoon cup of tea and cake, or a planned dinner party at your home?
Know Your Thoughts
Research elderly care options and have a think about where you would like to be in the future. You may want to stay living in the familiar surroundings of your home with the help of a live-in carer, or you may want to go into the residential care home where you know your friend will be. Knowing what you want will help you share thoughts and information with your family. We would be delighted to talk to you about different types of care available - you can call our friendly live-in care advisors for free on 0800 980 3958 to have a chat about your options.
Be Honest About Your Wishes & Your Health
Honesty is key. You need to talk openly about your care wishes, but also about your health as this will impact the amount of care you receive and what surroundings will suit you best. It may be difficult to talk to your children about health conditions but in the future they will be able to make a better decision to suit you and help you maintain a good quality of life. Get your family involved in the conversation - your children need to feel involved in your care decision as they want what is best for you!
Finalise Plans
Make it clear who will be in control of arranging care for you. This may be now or at a later date (agreement may not be reached in the first conversation!) but make a plan. Arguments can happen, families can drift apart especially when living away from each other so it's good to have a dedicated person who can looks after your care needs. Also remember that there is a difference between a financial Power of Attorney and a health and well-being Power of Attorney - look into these options earlier to help reach a decision.
Your family love you and want the best for you - talking about elderly care is important for everyone. Planning live in care in later life and finalising agreements means you have more time to spend making fun memories together! If you would like advice or guidance on elderly care options, our team would be delighted to help you - call us for free on 01264 319399 or email hello@access-care.co.uk