How to Help a Parent with Dementia Who Refuses Care

Dementia – the word alone sends shivers down the spine of anyone even remotely familiar with its effects. If you’ve already come face to face with this condition because you’re dealing with a parent who suffers from it, you will have already familiarized yourself with in home senior care, Los Angeles families whose lives have been changed forever by dementia or another brain disease swear by skilled home help for seniors.

But what if your parent refuses to receive care and assistance? In case of dementia, especially if it was caused by a stroke, which requires special care in its own right, the patient requires constant care and vigilance. Read on to learn more.

Try walking in their shoes

The confusion, memory loss, inability to retrace one’s steps and handle perfectly normal daily activities – dementia is downright frightening. Worst of all, your parent is fully aware that their mental capacities are diminishing and their whole personality is changing rapidly but they are powerless to stop any of it. The earth-shattering revelation is difficult to grasp, let alone accept.

Hiring home help for seniors with dementia is a step in the right direction, but don’t be surprised if your parent refuses to accept it and cooperate. Be compassionate and understanding. Finally, arrange for them to meet the caregiver beforehand so as to make the transition easier for everyone involved.

Let them have a say

Show readiness to communicate and find out what they need help with most instead of trying to boss them around only to be met with stronger resistance. Ask open-ended questions and try to find out how best to please them so they would feel as normal as possible. Let them choose the best time of day to have a caregiver come in.

After hiring home help for seniors, have patience

Try to make the environment as comfortable and mellow as possible. Being surrounded with the familiar will do your parent good, which is why your presence will be of vital importance. It should help them prepare for changes and accept them with dignity.

Be patient and give your parent choices and time to get used to the changes, including the arrival of the caregiver who is, after all, just a random stranger in the eyes of your parent. Take baby steps and never push them into doing things they are not comfortable with. Start off the process by delegating some, but not all, of your duties to the caregiver.

A Better Way: home help for seniors in their hour of need

Dealing with anyone who is being stubborn and unreasonable is annoying and frustrating. Dealing with a parent who suffers from dementia but refuses to accept the much-needed care and assistance is downright maddening. Before you put yourself through all that, call A Better Way. We will take over and do everything in our power to give your parent the best possible care and give you a piece of mind.