How to Talk About Live in Care with Elderly Relatives

When it comes to discussing and working out the best form of care for your elderly friends or loved ones, there’s a lot of areas you need to consider. There are tough conversations that will have to happen at one point or another including the conversation of exploring options for live in care or choosing a nursing home.

First up is the type of care that will best suit their needs, whether that means researching local care homes or exploring live in care in London and further afield.

Once you’ve identified the best solution to suit their needs, it’s time to start a conversation – something that many families struggle with. To help, here are a few suggestions from the Ivy Palmer team to help loved ones broach and digest the subject of care – and more specifically, live in care.

Be sensitive

The idea of care, particularly fulltime care, can evoke many emotions including fear, concern, and an overwhelming sense of losing their independence. That’s why being sensitive is key when discussing care, leading with the benefits and how such support will improve their lifestyle and open them up to being able to do more.

Be open

Being open to opinion will help you to identify the best solution for all parties. While involving everyone in the discussion may not always be appropriate, taking on board everyone’s thoughts will make the transition smoother.

Work through the details before discussing

This is more a suggestion around logistics, as it will make answering any questions easier. The more familiar you are with the set-up and intricacies of live in care, the easier it will be for you to lead a conversation with confidence.

This includes understanding the benefits of live in care, focussing on some of the below aspects of care that is delivered at home. 

• Live in care allows older individuals or those in need of fulltime or regular care to stay at home, within familiar surroundings and without the need to move and potentially sell their home in order to afford a room at a care home. 
• Live in care allows loved ones and family members to benefit from peace of mind and the certainty that their relative is being well cared for by a friendly and professional carer.
• A live in carer becomes as much a part of their social life as a support system in the home. Many existing clients herald our team for becoming close friends – with our approach to matching carers and individuals allowing for personality matches. 
• In home care doesn’t have to cost the world – in fact, many clients are surprised at how affordable it really is. 

Whether or not you’re ready to discuss live in care with your family member or elderly relative, now is a great time to reach out to the team at Ivy Palmer and benefit from a free, no obligation consultation. This is a chance for you to unpick the details and understand what it means to bring a live in carer into your lives, with our team able to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.