Having a Conversation with a Loved One About Traverse City, MI Home Health Care Agencies Options

Advice for families in Petoskey and Traverse City, Michigan on how to initiate a discussion regarding home health care agencies

Comfort Keepers recognizes the individuality of each client and family it serves. Therefore, we cannot provide a universal method of coaching families on how to have conversations with their aging loved ones regarding home care. Through our experience as a Northern Michigan provider of home health care agencies, we've recognized the value of starting this conversation with loved ones as soon as possible. Here are some of our top recommendations for how to have this difficult but necessary conversation right here in Traverse City. We encourage you to contact us if you have any issues or questions: (231) 222-5376.

Who: Include as many loved ones as possible who have a close relationship with the elderly person in question. Your elderly loved one will benefit from hearing from everyone in the family who is involved in his or her care and support – whether they’re located in Traverse City, MI or not.

What: Your conversational introduction needs to be as specific as possible. Is determining the optimal method of treatment a priority for you right now? Do you need help deciding on a medical clinic or hospital? In a conversation, it's helpful to have a clear objective in mind and to steer the other participants toward that end.

Where: A welcoming and relaxed setting is ideal for this discussion. Your elderly family member should be allowed to participate without restriction. You may have the talk at your loved one's place to make sure they feel safe coming, or you could go to someone else's if you want to keep things on more neutral ground.

When: A good time to have this talk is as soon as possible. If your loved one prefers home health care agencies, you shouldn't wait until an emergency arises to make the decision to place them in a nursing facility. Plan the discussion when everyone can be present, but keep in mind that your elderly relative may prefer to have difficult conversations at certain times of day.

Why: Because it's crucial for everyone to know what the senior member of the family hopes to get out of their retirement years, it's good to have an open conversation about their desires. Ensuring your loved one's legal affairs are in order includes this. In addition to a will and power of attorney, you should take this time to finalize any other legal documents that may be required.

We’re here if you need us

Realize that you may have more questions than answers after this discussion, or that you may need to look into local care options. In case you want further assistance, our home health care agencies in Traverse City and Petoskey are here to help. You should investigate prices, potential treatment centers, and insurance coverage to find the best option for your loved one.

Finally, assure your loved one that you say these things out of love and concern. Those words should be spoken to your elderly loved one. Make it clear that you're interested in learning about their preferences so that you can keep those in mind as they age.

Call us in Traverse City today

Your elderly loved one may find comfort in the familiarity of their own home and the services of home health care agencies. Get in touch with our helpful staff in Traverse City, MI and we will gladly provide you with additional information about our extensive in-home services: (231) 222-5376.