Welcome to the Home Care Mississauga blog. Visit often for updates, tips, and education on helping aging loved ones stay in their homes.

Family Caregivers and readers, please ask your questions in our comment section.  What is it like for you and your siblings? How did you minimize the defensiveness that your parents may have felt when bringing up hard topics such as finances or home safety or taking the keys away? We know these are hard topics and we would like you to share your stories.

Tips to enhance conversations about home care help with aging relatives:

1. Don’t speak to your parents like they are children, we call it Forget the Baby Talk! Remember, your parents or aging loved one is an adult, not children. What puts adults on defense is patronizing speech or communications. It could give the message of ill respect. Always put yourselves in their shoes, it helps the message delivery.

2. Always try to move in the direction that maximizes their independence. With their cooperation and together, look for answers that optimize strengths and also compensate for problems or their weaknesses. Remember Home Instead Senior Care can help.

3. If, for example, one parent passes away and soon afterward, the other parent seems to be depressed and doesn’t keep the house clean, it may not be because that living parent is ill. But instead it could be that he/she is suffering from the loss of a life long partner. You can help by making sure that parent has an active social life. We advise that families Stay Tuned in to the parent’s life, keeping a watchful eye.

4. Ask for help. We can assist you in resolving many of these issues by providing your parent(s) with the added support they need to maintain their independence. Resources such as Area Agency for the Aging and Home Instead Senior Care Mississauga can provide solutions.

Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Please call 905- 276-2273.