Holiday Season and Health-Related Family Meetings

The holidays are right around the corner and while they represent a time of love and caring, it’s also an ideal time to have family discussions as the entire family is typically present.

One common topic for families is the decision process surrounding caring for a loved one. It’s not an easy decision to place a loved one in a nursing home or request homecare assistance, and Sharon Roth Maguire, a geriatric nurse practitioner and Vice President of Quality and Clinical Operations for BrightStar Care®, prepared tips to help families lead successful discussions.

“You may have a hunch that a loved one needs additional assistance, but it can be difficult to come to terms with the fact and they might resist as well,” says Maguire. “Ultimately, having the conversation early and efficiently is best. We know it can be uncomfortable so we’ve put together a few helpful tips and techniques for assisting the process.”

Get prepared: Where do you start and what questions need to be asked? This isn’t a conversation you want to be unprepared for. There are resources available to help assist the process.

CareTogether features nine Task List templates that can help you prepare for your meeting. The pre-populated task lists include a home safety checklist, tips for interviewing a new caregiver, creating an emergency contact list and a family caregiver questionnaire.

Assess Needs: In addition, it’s important to recognize what physical and mental deficits your loved one currently has. Will your loved one need hands-on care or someone to fill a companion role? Does your loved one require skilled medical assistance or specialized care such as hospice care or mobility needs? Evaluate exactly what you are looking for and be prepared to discuss details.

Know Your Options: Do not assume that a nursing home is the only option. With homecare providers, community programs and assisted living facilities, there are various degrees of care that offer flexibility and independence for your loved one.

Communicate Openly: Listen to your loved one and family members involved in the conversation and be respectful. The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home or require additional aid can be difficult to embrace. Keep communication open and make sure everyone involved in the care process can openly discuss their needs, emotions and even frustrations effectively. Although it may be difficult to talk openly, it can greatly relieve stress.

Give the gift of support this Holiday Season: BrightStar Care® is here to help take the stress out of this busy time, so you and your family can enjoy the wonders of the Holidays and a happy and healthy New Year. Call BrightStar® to Hire an Elf® this season. We can help with care for visiting relatives to putting up holiday decorations to assisting the busy family caregiver.

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