Caring for an elderly loved one is a selfless and important job, but it can sometimes be difficult to manage. You may be doing the best you can to juggle the other responsibilities in your life with your loved one’s needs and experiencing many challenges as a result. One of the challenges you might face at some point is criticism from other family members about your caregiving. Though this may upset you initially, there are ways to handle the situation without making it more stressful.
Approach Them Directly
Hearsay is a major problem for many families, and misunderstandings can be particularly problematic when it comes to providing care for a loved one. One of the best ways to handle these problems before they become too serious is to speak with your family first to hear their side of the story. If they’re unfairly criticizing you, you may want to come up with a new plan of action.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care Las Vegas for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Ask Them for Actionable Tips
It’s important that everyone close to you understands all criticism must be constructive. When the inevitable criticism and advice come, try asking your family for actionable tips and suggestions. Asking these questions directly can help them take a different approach and might even provide you with a few great ideas.
Try a Different Method of Communication
No two relationships are identical, which means there’s no single perfect way for everyone to communicate. For many people, speaking directly to each other in person or over the phone leads to shouting matches and unnecessary aggression. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, you might want to start communicating through emails or text messages instead. This could defuse the situation and help you and your family avoid intense emotions when discussing your loved one’s care.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Las Vegas elderly home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help.
Take Some Time Off to Gain a New Perspective
Almost everyone who takes care of a senior loved one is going to experience caregiver burnout at some point. For many, this exhaustion is the result of ongoing criticism from close family members. Hiring a caregiver for even a few days a week allows you to step back from the situation and refresh your perspective. Though you may enjoy taking care of your loved one and you’re proud of the fact that you do so, asking for help doesn’t make your efforts any less meaningful.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide respite care. Las Vegas families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation. To create a customized in-home care plan for your loved one, call us at 702-919-0231.