How To Deal With Stubborn Parents?
Aging can be a scary thing and many seniors fear the unknown. There can be fears about the loss of independence and the effects of health conditions. This fear might be making many seniors resistant to seek help and some of them can be secretive about the symptoms that they experience. It can be agonizing for you as a child to watch your parents make dangerous decisions. For many people, the change from care recipient to caregiver can lead to an identity crisis. You need to keep your emotions in check to help your aging parents manage their needs.
There can be disagreements between senior parents and their children and it is important to manage conflicts in a supportive way. The tips that are shared by experts in senior living and assisted living can help you deal with your stubborn parents.
Tips To Deal With Stubborn Parents
Here are a few useful tips:
Be Persistent
Persistence can help make a conversation productive. Never expect that everything will be resolved in a single sitting. You need to be patient and bring your concerns to your patients many times to get the expected results. Always keep in mind that bombarding your senior loved one with all your concerns at once can trigger their insecurities and make them feel like they are losing control. Moreover, if your senior loved one suffers from dementia or any other type of cognitive impairment, it can be difficult for them to take in too much information.
Be Sensitive
Judgment and criticism from your side can make your senior parent defensive. Never bluntly tell your aging parents that they do not know how to manage their own lives. Instead of that, you can make statements like “I am concerned about your health” and “It seems that you are losing weight.”
Understand The Importance Of Timing
Nothing productive can happen when everyone involved in a conversation is exhausted. Therefore, you need to choose the proper timing to have conversations that are challenging. Have these conversations when your senior parent is relaxed and calm and not anxious and depressed. This applies to you too. Avoid making challenging conversations with others when you are feeling stressed and anxious.
Keep Calm
Your aging parents may be aware to some level that they have challenging situations. Therefore, they might feel safer avoiding talks about their future rather than admitting to reality. You need to state your concerns calmly and with love and reassure your parents that the changes are OK!