Discussions surrounding elderly care can be emotional enough, without the added stress that comes from a parent or loved one feeling reluctant to go into a nursing home. It might be that your parent feels they don’t need that additional support or perhaps, they are insisting that they are still healthy enough to live in their own home. In fact, one survey has shown that around 90 percent of elderly people would like to age in their current home for at least the next five to ten years, even though two-thirds of those people need help completing at least one daily task.
Growing older can be emotional, especially when a person’s mind is telling them they want to stay at home but their body has other ideas. That resistance to getting help is common, particularly if your parent has lived a pretty independent life to date. If this situation sounds familiar, please be rest assured, you are not alone.
So what happens if a parent is anxious about a move to a nursing home? Here we offer our top tips for addressing this problem.
Pay the nursing home a visit
Unfortunately, nursing homes can be attached to a lot of stigmas - which can unsurprisingly lead to elderly people feeling worried, concerned and scared about living in one. With that in mind, why don’t you and your loved ones pay the nursing home a visit? Dispel any myths surrounding nursing homes and give your parent an opportunity to see what they’re really about while meeting the staff.
At Oxford House, we take pride in enriching the lives of our residents, while delivering ongoing patient-focused care and support tailored to suit each individual. Our ethos is reflected throughout our nursing home - via our delicious home cooked meals and inviting social events calendar - which is why we strongly encourage our future residents and their loved ones to pay us a visit, so they can see what we have to offer.
Of course, we totally appreciate that getting your parent to simply pay us a visit might be a challenge. If you need a little help or advice, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team of staff and we will support you every step of the way. We can also offer virtual visits if this is less stressful.
Change your approach
If your parents are reluctant to go into a nursing home, it might be that your approach isn’t working - which means, you should consider changing tactics.
Here are a few ways you could look at changing your strategy:
- Consider weaving care into their routine gradually, rather than encouraging your parent to head straight into a nursing home. If you feel that care in their own home might be a better option, to begin with, then have a chat with our Oxford House community care team.
- Instead of telling your parent what to do, why don’t you discuss their options? If you can, try making them feel more in control of their future, by exploring options together.
- Watch your wording - by expressing your concerns and love, rather than your frustrations.
- Highlight the benefits of a nursing home, including socialising and better independent living.
- If tensions are at an all-time high, then you might want to back off and give your parents space. Sometimes, giving your parents time is all it takes for them to come around to the idea of a nursing home, by themselves.
Are you exploring elderly care options?
If you are exploring elderly care options - whether it's for you, a parent or a loved one - then get in touch with the friendly team at Oxford House. We are a nursing home, in Berkshire, also offering care in the community to people in Slough, Maidenhead, Windsor and South Bucks. We are here to make this process as stress-free and easy for everyone involved. Get in touch with us today.