Family Dynamics
If you are having the Surprise Emergency Conversation, you probably didn’t have the Signs of Decline Conversation. The Signs of Decline Conversation is where family members share observations they may have made about an aging parent who is starting to decline. Having this conversation as early as possible can help you to avoid or at least minimize emergency events.
The Call to Action for Signs of Decline can range starting with anything that might cause immediate danger like driving to making sure their home is safe. You may even feel that they need some limited Homecare Services. Once you begin to see signs of decline, it’s important to get a baseline from which to measure future changes in condition. That’s why getting a current medical evaluation is so important. We will be talking a lot about all of these in upcoming issues.
But if you find yourself having the emergency conversation by surprise, things can get pretty chaotic, not to mention emotional. Important decisions have to be made and evaluated under pressure. This can put a family at odds beginning this long-term challenge on the wrong foot.
Catch yourselves if this happens so that you don’t create a pattern of conflict unnecessarily. The best way to do this is to do a reset. Have a meeting following the event or even during if you have time and look at the facts.
What is their condition? What are their needs? What are your options?
You can see how being ready with a plan and knowing what to do would help not only your loved one to get the best outcome, but the whole family.
So don’t stop there. Once you have resolved your current situation, be proactive and start planning forward!
Get your FREE Signs of Decline Checklist and find out about The Safe at Home Program .
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Dallyce Brisbin
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