- Seniors do not want to lose their independence. They may think that by asking for your help, they may become dependent on you or that you might consider them as a burden.
- Parents still consider you as a kid no matter how old you are. As they were taking care of you since the beginning, they may struggle to accept this switch in the roles.
- Seniors don’t want to trouble you by asking for help as they don’t want to add one more thing to your list of responsibilities.
- It’s possible that your senior loved one might be worried about the cost of certain types of care they need.
- Once you understand the reasons why your parents refuse help, it’s important to learn how to better communicate in order to help them.
- Spend quality time with them more often. Carefully observe and try to figure out what type of help they need. Listen to them attentively while they are speaking or sharing something with you.
- Talk to them politely without getting irritated and try to make them comfortable so that they can ask for help without any hesitation.
- Be patient and do not give up - at any cost. If they do not want your help with something, accept their refusal the first time, give them some time to think, and try again later.
What can you do?