Senior Care News

Why Is it Important for Your Elderly Loved One to Maintain as Much Independence as Possible?

Home Care in Floral Park NYHome-Care-in-Floral-Park-NY

Family caregivers can find that helping their elderly loved one can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Their loved one fights for independence in all situations, sometimes endangering themselves. But why would they do that?

It’s a Control Thing

For some elderly loved ones, there is so much of their lives that is out of their control. Perhaps they have health conditions that have quickly deteriorated or there are other factors at work. At some point, your loved one may start to feel that her own home and her ability to remain independent on her own are the only things that she has any say over. That can make her fight to maintain her independence, even when she needs a little extra help.

It Helps Your Loved One’s Feelings of Self-worth

Being able to take care of herself and to maintain her independence contributes to your loved one’s feelings of overall well-being and self-worth. Everyone wants to be able to take care of themselves to the fullest of their abilities and that’s just as true for your elderly loved one. Feeling that she can’t take care of herself on her own can chip away at your loved one’s self-worth, making her feel bitter and resentful.

Your Loved One Can Still Achieve Goals

Even if your loved one needs a little bit of extra help, she can still achieve some of her own goals. She can also make some of her own decisions and be involved in discussions that directly affect her life and her health. Leaving her out of these discussions is a bad idea because it reinforces for her that you feel she’s not capable when that’s not necessarily the case.

Getting Extra Help without Impeding Independence

In some cases, it’s all about how you offer the extra help to your loved one. Hiring home care providers for your own peace of mind is much different than telling your loved one that she’s not able to take care of herself so someone else has to do it. Think carefully about how you would feel to be told something before you say it to your loved one.

Talk with your loved one about her need for independence so that you can reach a compromise between her emotional needs and her overall health and safety.

If you or an aging loved one are in need of home care in Floral Park, NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!

Stephen Sternbach

Recent Posts

Categories

Contact Us About Home Care

Skip to content