Learning to Accept Your Senior Parent’s Diagnosis

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Accepting a Loved One's Diagnosis in Winnipeg, MB

  The news that a senior family member has a serious illness is never easy to hear, and even when you understand that accepting the diagnosis is the first step toward helping your loved one, it can be difficult to find your way to that state of grace. Whether your family member has a cognitive condition or a change in physical health, here are a few tips that can help you adjust and handle the new situation.

Feel Your Feelings

Start the process by recognizing it’s natural to feel intense emotions during this challenging time. Your feelings may range from anger and denial to guilt and sadness. Like physical discomfort, emotional pain alerts you to the fact that something is wrong, but remember the feeling itself isn’t wrong. Burying your feelings may diminish your pain, but it shuts down the part of you that lets you feel joy as well. Allow yourself to feel emotions without self-criticism and judgment.  Caring for a senior loved one 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 Winnipeg Home Care Assistance 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. 

Value Your Contributions

The diagnosis of a chronic or terminal illness may make family members feel powerless or useless, but there’s still so much you can do and say to enhance your loved one’s life. From running errands and helping around the house to simply being there to listen and offer emotional support, every effort you make is valuable and worthwhile. The opportunity to give back to those who love you can be an incredibly rewarding experience. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a senior home care agency you can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services.

Acknowledge Your Limitations

When helping your loved one after a difficult diagnosis, remember to take care of yourself, too. You may have some bad days when you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically overwhelmed. Try not to devote so much time to your family member that you overlook your own needs. Seek advice from others in similar situations by joining a caregiver support group, where you can receive encouragement, advice, and caregiving tips that can ease your mind and boost your mood. Share your feelings with others, take advantage of resources available in your community, and seek help from other family members and professional caregivers who can provide hourly and live-in care. It’s sometimes necessary to take a break from your caregiving duties to focus on your own emotional health. 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. Winnipeg families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Home Care Assistance. 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 home care plan for your loved one, call Home Care Assistance at (204) 489-6000 today.

Related posts:

  1. 6 Steps to Take After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
  2. 5 Ways to Help a Senior Parent Who Won’t Listen
  3. Ways to Encourage Your Senior Parent to Visit the Doctor
  4. 5 Tips for Helping Your Senior Parent with Home Organization

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