How to Talk to Your Elderly Parents as You Become the Caretaker

When you’re growing up your parents are the people you go to for everything. They seemingly know it all and are there for every step of your young life. It takes quite the adjustment when things flip and you become the caretaker. This is not always the easiest of transitions and one that takes some serious thought. The most common problem is communication, which is why we put together some helpful tips on how to talk to your elderly parents.

Put Yourself in Their Shoes

When trying to clearly communicate with anyone, let alone your aging parents, trying to see things from their perspective goes a long way in being able to get your point across. You have to understand that this isn’t just an adjustment for you, but this is also new to them. It’s not easy to be an independent person your whole life and then suddenly have to go through the realization that you need help. Think how you would feel if you were them and apply that when you talk to them. 

Patience is a Virtue When Communicating with Your Elderly Parents

It is no secret that as we age, we begin to suffer from some unfortunate conditions. Difficulty with hearing and vision is among the most common. With understanding that, you really need to practice patience when talking to your parents. It’s easy to get frustrated with them because of the comfort level you have and the fact that those common conditions can make them difficult, but being patient will allow you to solve problems without breaking out into arguments. Besides, just think back to all the times they were patient with you when you were a kid. 

Let Your Elderly Parents Take Baby Steps

We tend to not like change, especially when we reach our elderly stages, which is why when you are trying to convince your parents of change it’s important to let them do it in baby steps. This shows that they aren’t the only ones that are compromising and it’s always easier to slowly transition into change.

Let Your Elderly Parents Make Their Own Choices

At the end of the day, your parents are their own people. It’s important to let them have a say in decisions. Before forcing anything on them, you should make your point and give them some time to make their own choices. You’ll find that when you do that they tend to listen more often than not.

We know that one of the hardest things to talk with your parents about is their need for help or monitoring on a daily basis. We highly recommend looking into a home medical alert system. Home medical alert systems allow for your elderly parents to be monitored 24/7, with a host of advanced and helpful features.

For more information or to purchase a CareLink® product, please call (844) 818-2356 or fill out the form and one of our knowledgeable support staff members will contact you shortly.  

Learn about the CareLink® Numera – An innovative home medical alert system. 

Looking for articles like this? Check out Five Tips for Long-Distance Caregiving.