WE NEED TO TALK…

It is never easy to bring up a difficult topic and these four little words always invoke fear, dread, pain and awkwardness whenever they are uttered by us or are directed at us.

The one conversation that is becoming more and more common in recent years is the “talk” baby boomers are increasingly forced to have with our aging parents.  What exactly is that talk?  It is the one when we have to tell our parents– the ones who raised us to be independent and survive in the world on our own– that we will no longer allow them to do the same.  We want to take away their car keys, move them away from the home that they have known for 50 some years, take away their way of life, and expect them to be OK with it.  We tell them it is for the best but convincing them is not an easy task.  How do we handle this delicate topic and make it as comfortable as possible?

First, recognize the signs that a loved one may not be able to live independently

• Missing important appointments
• Poor diet or weight loss
• Unexplained dents and scratches on a car
• Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
• Difficulty with walking and mobility
• Incontinence
• Poor hygiene
• Unpaid bills and bounced checks
• Stacks of unopened mail
• Changes in mood
• Diagnosis of Dementia or Alzheimer’s

Make sure you know your options and what is available to you.  There is a difference between Home Health, Independent Living facilities (IL), Assisted Living facilities, (AL), and Skilled Nursing facilities.  Interview companies, visit several facilities, ask for recommendations from doctors, clergy, and friends.  This is not an easy decision to make and the more information you have the easier the conversation will be.

Home Helpers of North Austin is here to help.  Our dedicated, professional team of caregivers is experienced working in-home, transitioning loved ones from home to facility, providing transportation and errand service, and being compassionate and caring companions when it is needed most.

Please check out our website at http:www.austintxhomecare.com for a complete list of services we provide.

Why I started Home Helpers of North Austin

Kellie Goff, Owner, Home Helpers North Austin

Welcome to my Blog, Home Helpers of North Austin!  I hope you enjoy reading about the experiences of my life as a business owner and the trials and tribulations that come along with it.  I never saw myself in this position until a few years ago as newly divorced after 25 years of marriage, no real marketable skills, and two grown children who didn’t need to be cared for any longer.  While exploring my options, I realized I needed to be needed, and, with the onset of the “Silver Tsunami”, this was the industry for me.

Let me back up a little and explain how I came to this realization.  I was fortunate enough to know both sets of my maternal great-grandparents and still have my 94-year old grandmother alive and well.  Both of my parents are alive and my father is the eighth baby of a very large Catholic family.  For as long as I can remember, there was always a grandparent living with us or an aunt, uncle, or relative we needed to visit.  Many Sundays were spent attending Mass then going to the nursing home.

Some of you will read this and recoil at the thought of a nursing home or the geriatric population.  It is normal and not something we want face or think about.  However, our own mortality is inevitable and something we need to come to terms with.  My wish for you is that you embrace the elderly in your life, take the time to listen to their stories, be a little more patient, and try to put yourself in their place.

Kellie Goff, Owner of Home Helpers North Austin