4 Steps to Honoring an Elderly Parent’s Wishes

 

 

4 Steps to Honoring an Elderly Parent's Wishes

On Monday, we discussed honoring end-of-life wishes from the elderly parents perspective.

Although having this discussion is difficult, honoring the wishes of an aging loved one is an extremely important aspect of end-of-life care. It makes the journey much more comfortable for them, and also puts you at ease.

So to continue our talk about honored wishes, today, we’re going to talk about a few ways that you can get on the right track towards honoring an elderly parent’s wishes.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind at this important time:

1. Try to have the discussion sooner rather than later

In our previous post, we mentioned that time is priceless. As such, we believe that you should have the discussion about end-of-life wishes with your loved ones as soon as possible.

While this may be a difficult conversation to have, especially when your loved one is in perfectly good health, it’s important to make sure that you try to understand your loved ones wishes before it becomes urgent. This allows you to have adequate time to prepare them for as comfortable a journey as possible.

2. Find an appropriate time and place to ask

Finding an appropriate time and place to have the discussion is another important step in the process and will make things much easier. In some instances, a private one-on-one discussion may be best–reducing the likelihood of having your loved one feel overwhelmed or ambushed by a group.

3. Ask permission

Not all parents are ready to have this kind of discussion. Along with finding an appropriate setting, make sure to ask their permission before you engage them.

Forcing the conversation will only make things more stressful, and might even make your parents less willing to have any sort of discussion in the future.

4. Take the time to prepare yourself for the discussion

Before you have a conversation about end-of-life wishes with your loved one, make sure that you feel confident and ready. The conversation may be difficult, and quite frankly, frightening for your parent to have.

Above all, be patient, open, and comforting. Showing your parent that you are willing to hear them out and guide them in their time of need will make the process much easier for you, and most importantly for them.

We understand how difficult of a conversation this can be. But by keeping your loved ones perspective in mind, you’ll make their journey that much better. If you need help having those conversations, we are here for you. Feel free to contact us at any time with your questions, comments, or concerns.

Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!

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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”