Encouraging Words
1. “Mom, I have so much respect and love for you. I want to do everything I can to support you in the way YOU want to be supported … not what I think you want.”
2. “Mom, you know that my sister and I don’t agree on everything and I don’t want this to cause any stress for you in your later years should you need help and need us to work effectively together.”
3. “Dad, you have avoided talking about getting older and I know it’s scary. Please take some time to tell me about your fears, concerns, expectations so that I can do what you want me to do. I don’t want to guess and make the wrong decision.”
4. “I know you never want me to feel stress or worry. Me neither. There is a way to avoid this. Talk to me about what you expect of me so that if you need help, I don’t waste my energy on worrying about which decisions I should make and I can focus on supporting you and not doubting myself.”
Don’t put pressure on yourself or your aging relatives that this will go perfectly the first time out of the gate. Patience, love and listening will bring results. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
About the Author
Stephanie Erickson is the founder and director of Erickson Resource Group. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and is licensed in both Quebec and California. Erickson Resource Group works with specialists from all areas of senior care such as social workers, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, physicians, nutritionists, notaries, attorneys and financial planners to ensure the information provided is comprehensive and up to date. To find out more about the services, click here.
About the author
