Your mom is painfully shy.
When she’s in a room with strangers, she shuts down, panics, and looks for a way to escape. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, it’s not uncommon. In fact, 15 million men and women suffer from an extreme level of shyness known as social anxiety disorder.
When your mom is that shy, it’s difficult getting her the elderly care services she needs. While she can’t manage activities of daily living by herself, she’s not comfortable having a stranger coming to her home. She sees the act as an invasion of her privacy.
Here are tips on how to handle this situation…
-Talk to the Elderly Care Agency First
Before you discuss things with your mom, call an elderly care agency to discuss the best approach to take. They may have tips you can use. They’ll also know which caregivers on their staff are best equipped to handle an extremely shy senior citizen.
-Involve Your Mom in the Interview Process
Your mom won’t necessarily enjoy being involved, but it’s important for her to have her say in who comes into her home. The caregiver she most likes may not be your top pick. That’s okay. It’s your mom that’s going to be with the caregiver, so her feelings matter most.
-Do a Trial Run When You’re Present
When you’ve hired an elderly care specialist, arrange to be available for the first day or two. Your mom will be more comfortable if she has you to help her get adjusted. Don’t supervise the caregiver. Spend the time being present without managing. Use the time to see how your mom reacts and offer support only when it’s absolutely necessary.
-Distance Yourself Over Time
As you find your mom feeling more comfortable with her caregiver, start leaving the house so that they’re alone. Make sure your mom knows you’ll be back and start slowly. Leave for 10 minutes the first day and build from there. After a few days, you should be able to go to work or attend to your own errands and responsibilities without your mom being uncomfortable with her caregiver. Many aging adults do not like having a stranger taking care of them.
Remember that elderly care professionals have experience in these situations and will do everything possible to make sure your mom is comfortable. It takes a phone call to get started. Call today.
If you or an aging family member are considering home care services in Atlanta, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954.
We provide quality non-medical services to our clients in their homes or in a facility if that’s where they live. Our staff is available for care plans for extensive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or as little as 4 hours per visit. Reach out to us, and one of our outstanding administrative staff will meet with potential clients to assist them and their families in designing an effective, personal plan of care.
Sources: https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics