Is it time to hire home care? How to start caregiving conversations with your loved ones.
For many families, changes in the year ahead may be top of mind after spending the holidays together and discussing upcoming life milestones, such as welcoming a new baby, graduating from high school, planning a wedding, starting a new a job, moving to a new city, or even retiring.
Yet, some topics that are more uncomfortable to broach—like is this the year to enlist additional home care support for an aging family member?—may have been skipped. While it can feel daunting to bring up, millions of families in the U.S. are providing some form of care for their elder loved ones—and as more of them age into increasingly complex care needs, exploring professional home care assistance is a critically important yet often overlooked family discussion.
Feelings of guilt or skepticism may arise at the thought of entrusting the care of loved ones to paid professionals outside of the family unit. Yet in my experience with Sharecare’s home care service, CareLinx, I’ve seen life-changing relationships form between individuals and their professional caregivers, who become a trusted addition to and extension of the family team. In fact, a recent Consumer Reports article noted how an 80-year-old widow, Sue, used our service to find support for her needs in the comfort and safety of her home. Paired with her caregiver, Ashley, for more than two years now, they have become close friends, and Sue even regularly records TV shows for the pair to watch together. As I read the story—which shared advice for finding home care—I reflected on how challenging it can be to even raise the idea of seeking out care for an aging loved one.
Whether you’re a concerned adult child, a spouse, or a close family friend, broaching the topic of getting them “some extra help at home” requires sensitivity, preparation, and a genuine focus on your loved one’s well-being. If you’re unsure if you really need additional help to support your loved one, or feel overwhelmed finding a trusted caregiver, at Sharecare, we are here to empower you with tools, resources, and advisors who can provide guidance to make these conversations more manageable and impactful.
Bottom line, navigating conversations about caregiving can be challenging, but they are essential and come from a place of love and respect. As families consider their needs for the upcoming year, our team has compiled this easy-to-follow guide on how to get the caregiving conversation started.
And when you’re ready to take the next step or have questions about how home care can benefit your family, visit CareLinx.com to learn more, or call our team at 1-800-494-3106.
