If the living assistance services you have chosen to care for your parent do not create a safe and healthy environment for your mother or father, you have selected the incorrect service provider. Living assistance services providers are trained to maintain the dignity and self-respect of your mom or dad.  Age, health or economic status has no bearing on how your loved one should be treated. Your mother or father should be as special to the care provider you hire as they are to you.

As mom or dad ages, sadly, in many circumstances, they do become ill and need personal assistance. Not all adult children are capable, physically or emotionally, to care for and support their parents. Often parents are mindful of this situation and do not want to be personally cared for by their children, especially when it comes to toileting, bathing, and dressing. However, what your parent does expect of their children is to make sure whoever is caring for them is doing so with compassion and empathy..

It is important to provide for and discuss the following sensitive situations and circumstances with your parent so the caregiver, the senior and you understand their expectations and needs:

• Privacy when if they are capable of self-care or partial self-care.
• Mobility, positioning and other hands-on assistance
• Decision making – include the senior and respect their wishes whenever possible
• Don’t talk about your parent in front of them – talk directly to them

Encourage your seniors to participate in their care. Every little bit of effort counts.  Providing dignity for your mom or dad is part of the living assistance services process. If this is missing from his or her care, a reevaluation is in order.