According to research, approximately 44 million Americans provide over 37 billion hours of unpaid care for family members every year.

Caregiving for your own family can take its toll on your overall well-being and quality of life. Not only are you needing to take care of yourself and your children, but also, you have to be responsible for the care of your aging parent(s). 

This is why many people are hiring an in-home caregiver to help with their activities of daily living.

As your parent ages, their own home can become dangerous, so an in-home caregiver can provide a sense of comfort, company, and of course safety. 

The problem is, how can you introduce the idea of an in-home caregiver to your parent(s) without upsetting them? This is a very sensitive subject and needs to be approached in an empowering way. 

Keep on reading this handy guide to learn how to approach the subject of a caregiver to your parent(s).

Introduce Your Concerns

Beginning the conversation about the idea of hiring an in-home caregiver can feel nerve-wracking. The last thing you want to do is upset your parents, yet you know you need to keep them safe.

Alzheimer’s disease affects over 80% of people over the age of 75. This can lead to a lot of safety concerns and requires dementia in-home caregivers.  If you have noticed your parent(s) slipping with important safety concerns such as leaving the stove on or forgetting their medications, this can be a good topic to introduce the conversation of an in-home caregiver.

This way, you can set the tone for safety concerns, rather than feeling like you are taking away their independence or dignity.

Focus on Their Independence

You can describe to your parents that the in-home caregiver duties are not to take away their independence, but rather add to it instead.

Tell them that because they are at risk for falls, a caregiver could help prevent this from happening. This is because if they fall again, they could break a bone or be confined to a wheelchair.

Also, if they forget their medications their health would decline. Introducing a caregiver will help ensure they are healthy and maintaining as much independence as possible.

Make it About You

Your parents want you to be happy and well, and if caring for them is taking over your quality of life, they need to understand that. 

Mention that you can help cover the in-home caregiver cost because you are missing out on activities of your own life such as your children’s sports games etc. 

By introducing it about yourself and your life, it won’t make them feel like a burden. This will also help them to understand all the hours you spend taking care of them.

Learn More About Introducing an In-Home Caregiver

No matter how you introduce the idea of an in-home caregiver, it will still be a difficult conversation to have. 

If you still want your parent(s) closer to you, you can always create a mother-in-law suite in your house, to ensure their safety and good company.

To learn more about how to create the perfect mother-in-law suite, check out our information on developing a mother-in-law suite design.