It’s not easy when you think that you know what’s best for an elderly loved one, but he refuses to even consider anything related to senior care. You’ve noticed the change in his behavior through the months. You might have found him wearing the same clothing for a couple of days. Maybe you realized that he isn’t bathing regularly and even though he won’t say why, you know your father is probably having trouble getting in and out of the shower safely.

You shake your head, maybe you admonish him, and then you walk out the door, to your car, and you are frustrated. You slip in behind the wheel and the tears are brimming right there at the edge of your eyelids. You want to do something and you know, without a doubt, that he would benefit so much from senior home services, but he won’t even let you talk about it.

The moment that you begin to utter anything related to senior care, he shuts you down, walks away, and becomes belligerent. He’s telling you that he doesn’t need someone coming into his home, telling him what to do, stealing his things, and so on and so forth.

Your situation isn’t unique. There are many families who are dealing with the same type of refusal from their elderly loved ones to even consider senior care services. So how do you deal with this? What are your options?

Basically, as long as your father isn’t a threat to someone else, then there isn’t a great deal that you can do, other than be there to support him in the best way that you can. If he refuses to consider senior care, and he is cogent and clear mentally, then you don’t have many options.

However, you can contact a senior care agency to talk to them and find out what kind of strategies they might have for approaching the subject with your father again in the future. If you believe that he is an imminent threat to his safety, or to the welfare of others, you could seek power of attorney over his affairs. This would require legal action and you’d likely need a lawyer, and he would need one as well. A judge would then decide whether he is capable of making his own decisions.

Ultimately, though, it’s best to exercise patience at all times. That’s your best option at this time.

The caregivers at Great Care are available to talk with you and your family about all of your senior care needs. Great Care is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in Indianapolis, IN and the surrounding areas. Call (317) 595-9933 for more information.