Asking for Help Is Not Giving Up- It’s Gaining Independence
When we have a newborn, our friends say “take all the help you can get,” but for some reason this changes as time passes. Why? Life doesn’t really get any easier, its challenges just come in different forms.
Knowing when to ask for help can be difficult. There are several factors that go into making that decision, but why is asking for help so hard?
Asking for Help and Independence
The biggest challenge our clients face is thinking that asking for help means losing their independence. Our staff is very sensitive to that belief, so to make our clients feel comfortable we always walkthrough the process start to finish WITH them and take very detailed notes. That way, when we perform the task, it is done to the same satisfaction as if they had done it themselves.
There is a certain confidence in knowing an expectation is set right from the very start which makes it a little easier for our clients to accept. Instead of thinking of asking for help as losing independence, think about it as GAINING independence. Independence from life’s tedious, mundane tasks and leaving you more time to devote to those things or people that bring you joy.
Asking for Help Is Not Failure
Some people prolong asking for help because they associate it with personal failure or giving up. What an impossible standard to live by.
Aging and Real-Life Challenges
Asking for help doesn’t make you any less than. Aging presents real challenges and limitations we’ll all encounter someday. Asking for help is in no way a sign of giving up, in fact, it’s a smart decision. If you wait until things get too overwhelming, depression and anxiety can settle in and that feeling can oftentimes be worse than the dread of asking for help in the first place.
And if you happen to be one of those that waits until things get too unmanageable, that’s okay too. Help can only come when you’re ready to receive it. But what I will tell you, is that once you have the help, it’s hard to think of what life was like without it.
It’s Never Too Early to Ask for Help
It’s never too early to start looking for help so that as you age, you already have an established relationship with someone you trust your life and home with.
Feeling Like a Burden
Even still, some seniors simply don’t ask for help because they feel like a burden. This is a very real sentiment held by many of our clients, especially when it comes to asking family members for help. I often hear, “well they have their own life, so I don’t want to bother them.”
Many times this is a fabricated belief, because I can assure you, family members want to help, but this sentiment is another reason we exist. Our clients would prefer to pay for our services than ask family to help, and we get it. Hiring help gives consistency that might be hard to get from family members with busy schedules.
We All Benefit From a Little Help
But let’s be real. Even if able-bodied, wouldn’t having a little extra help be amazing? Someone to keep us afloat, make us feel like we’re ahead of the curve and less anxious about all the to-dos and how they’re all going to get done? Someone to give us the gift of time to enjoy life more fully?
As the Beatles lyric goes, “we get by with a little help from our friends.” That’s what we were put on this Earth to do, put us to use! I assure you, you won’t regret it!
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Welcome to Kelly Ogden Lifestyle Management
At Kelly Ogden Lifestyle Management, we believe life runs smoother when you have the right support by your side — someone who understands your needs, shows up consistently, and genuinely cares. Whether you’re managing a busy household, navigating a life transition, or simply craving more ease in your day-to-day, we’re here to help you live with more comfort, joy, and peace of mind.
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