Questions to Help You and Your Parent Feel More Comfortable with a Home Care Provider

Home Care in Matawan NJ

Hiring a home care provider for your elderly parent can make a tremendous difference in her quality of life. This type of care provider can design a personalized care approach tailored to her specific needs so that she gets the care and assistance that she needs while still emphasizing independence. No matter how beneficial you know that an in home health care services provider would be for your aging loved one, it is important to remember that she is still a new person who you are introducing into your parent’s life. As with any new person, it will take some time for your parent to feel comfortable with this care provider. Helping them to feel comfortable and at ease together will help your parent to get the most benefit from this relationship.

While much of getting comfortable with the new arrangement will require that your parent and the new care provider spend time together, you can get them off to a good start. Asking the care provider questions can help to encourage sharing and getting to know each other. These conversations can reveal things that they have in common, inspire ideas for them to have fun together, and make your parent feel more comfortable receiving care from this person.

The questions that you choose to ask the in home health care services provider are a personal choice, but let these ideas inspire you for topics that you can use to start conversations:

• Why did you become a care provider? Knowing the motivation behind this care provider going into this industry can be very informative to your parent. She might wonder what gave the care provider the idea to care for others and hearing the story can give her greater understanding of the care provider herself.
• Tell us about your family. Encourage the care provider to tell you about her partner and if she has children. This will make your parent feel closer to this care provider and create depth of character. It is always an opportunity to discuss the hobbies and pastimes that she has outside of her care career.
• Do you have any pets? A love of pets is something that many people have in common. Mentioning special pets can trigger memories, encourage sharing of stories, and give your parent a true glimpse of her personality. Encourage your parent to tell the care provider about her pets if she has them, or about the pets she has had in the past.
• What are your favorite hobbies? Talking about the things that the care provider likes to do outside of work can build connections between this care provider and your parent. They might just find that they have interests or pastimes in common. This is not only a way for them to find common ground and start to build a relationship, but it can also be a great way to inspire activities for them to do together in the course of their care journey.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Matawan, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Lares Home Care 1-800-781-7435 or 732-566-1112.