Sitting down and initiating a discussion with your elderly parents about needing some personal home care can be uncomfortalbe. Many families avoid such conversations about aging, end of life, and finances because they view these topics as private matters. The following tips provide communications strategies that might help with the dialogue of care for parents.

1. Start discussions early-it’s much easier to have these discussions while your parents can be a part of the decision making process, rather than you having to do it for them because of illness or injury.

2. Go in prepared-don’t be surprised to learn that your parents have already thought about the need for personal home care someday. Create a game plan to present to your parents, include siblings and other pertinent relatives, and gather necessary information to share on senior in home care.

3. Explain your purpose-let your parents know you are concerned about them and that your goal is to help them. Your parents will be more responsive to elderly home care if they participate in the dec isions.

4. Take one step at a time-don’t overwhelm your parents by trying to solve too many problems at once. Change comes slowly to many seniors. Tackle the big problems first. Accepting the fact that they need help may take some for your parents to accept.

5. It’s ok to agree to disagree-if your parent’s don’t initially agree with your idea for senior in home care, don’t push too hard. Unless their immediate health or safety are an issue, their wishes should prevail.

6. Don’t give up-if you run into extreme resistance to personal home care on your first attempt…keep trying. Leave some literature for them to read. Be patient and approach the subject again once they’ve had time to disgest the idea.