What Do You Do When it’s Tough to Ask for Help?

Just because you’re a caregiver that doesn’t mean it’s automatically easy to ask for the help that you and your senior need. It takes some practice, but you can learn how to ask for and to receive the help that you need in order to be an effective caregiver. 

Why Is it So Tough to Ask for Help?

Elderly Care Northbrook, IL: Asking for Help

So many people have a difficult time asking for the assistance that they do understand is necessary. If that’s you, it’s important for you to get to the bottom of those feelings. Journaling can be a helpful way to explore those feelings. Even if you don’t write out how you’re feeling, you do need to ask yourself why it’s so difficult to reach out for help. The answer is going to serve you well now and in the future. 

Asking for Assistance Is Better than Avoiding It 

When you don’t ask for the help that you need, what happens? There might not be any catastrophes right away, but you may find yourself in a loop of negativity. That loop can be hard to break out of, especially if you’re worried about your senior and her safety. Ask yourself what’s worse, needing help and not getting it or bracing yourself and asking. 

Old Habits Are Hard to Break 

Even when you’re examining the feelings and situations that exist around asking for help, those old habits are not easy to break free from. It takes a lot of conscious effort and you may need to talk yourself into some action steps. Remember that’s okay and what really matters is that you’re trying to do the best things possible for your senior. 

Elderly Care Providers Make Getting Help Easy 

Asking friends and family for help may be difficult still, but elderly care providers are experts in helping caregivers provide the best care possible to their senior family members. Just this simple act can help you to understand that it really can be easy for you to get help and that you don’t have to do everything on your own. That can be a powerful lesson for a caregiver, especially one that has been going it alone for a while. 

Pushing yourself to do more on your own isn’t the best option as a caregiver. If you’re still finding it difficult to ask for help, it might be a good idea to find someone you can talk to about the situation. Learning how to lean on someone else can make caregiving much easier and relieves a great deal of pressure. 

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care in Northbrook, IL, contact the caring staff atCompanion Services of Americatoday at(847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas. 

Jamie Shapiro