Why Are Other Family Members in Denial and What Can You Do?
Other family members are in denial far more often than you might be comfortable with as your senior’s caregiver. What this might mean for you is that it’s tough to get the help you need because they don’t even see the problem.
Senior Care in Broomall PA: Caregiver Tips for Family Denial
Denial Is a Coping Mechanism
The reason that denial is both so common and so strong is that it’s effective as a coping mechanism. It helps your family members to stick with the comfortable thought patterns and information that they’ve always had. Letting go of that denial means that there are big changes afoot and that can be extremely difficult to deal with all at once.
Gather Your Information
One of the best tools against denial is accurate information. Make sure that you’re as informed as you can possibly be about all aspects of your senior’s care and well-being. A powerful ally in this information-gathering phase is your senior’s doctor. But don’t forget to branch out and to see information elsewhere, too.
Try to Table Your Frustration
This is a frustrating time. You can see exactly what is happening, but other family members don’t understand or want to see what you see. Your frustration isn’t going to help, though. The more frustrated that you get, the more likely some family members might be to see that as a justification for their own denial. You must be wrong if you’re not willing to listen to them, after all.
Offer Opportunities for Questions
Offer as many chances as possible for other family members to get information and to ask questions. Being open to their own search for knowledge will help them to continue to take those next steps. They may take those steps slowly, but if they’re making progress at all then you need to encourage it.
Do What You Need to Do
You can’t sit around forever and wait for your other family members to catch up to what is happening, though. You need to take action when you need to do so and when it makes sense in your senior’s care. Your family members may not fully grasp that your senior can’t drive anymore, but there still needs to be a solution. Hiring elder care providers to handle the driving gets you an answer now rather than later.
In the end, your other family members are going to stay in denial if that’s what they’re determined to do. You can only do what you can for your aging adult and let other family members come around as they are able to do so.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE ARE CONSIDERING Senior Care in Broomall, PA, PLEASE CONTACT THE FRIENDLY STAFF AT SUMA HOME CARE.
Call today: (484) 206-4544
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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