The mental and emotional aspects of aging can take a toll on seniors and their family caregivers. However, caregivers need to remain calm and understanding at all times. Here are some tips to help family caregivers address their senior loved ones’ behavioral changes.
Determine the Issue
Although behavioral changes are fairly common in aging adults, there could be an underlying cause or trigger for these emotions. For example, your loved one might be resistant to care because he or she isn’t comfortable with the caregiver. As a result, your loved one may become angry, agitated, or violent. Instead of ignoring the changes in behavior or categorizing them as part of the aging process, determine what’s causing the issue and develop a positive solution.
If you’re having difficulty caring for your loved one and handling his or her changing behavior, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Garland home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
Promote Social Activities & Interaction
Boredom, lack of self-esteem, and bad behavior are often due to isolation. Seniors who fail to socialize with others may become angry, resentful, and depressed. Poor self-esteem can cause older adults to push family members and friends away, which is bad for their mental and physical health. Encourage your loved one to participate in social events to stave off isolation. Sign your loved one up for activities he or she can do without feeling embarrassed. The purpose is to boost self-worth and make your loved one feel more accomplished, which could reduce the risk of isolation and other negative behaviors.
For families living in Garland, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Ambience In-Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Develop Effective Communication Strategies
Poor listening is a common behavioral change many older adults experience, and they may lose focus due to health reasons such as cognitive decline. Instead of having normal conversations, seniors may have difficulty with short-term memory and speech. As people age, they become less active mentally and physically, which can have a negative effect on the brain and lead to social withdrawal.
If your loved one experiences hearing impairment, take him or her to the doctor immediately for testing and ask about effective communication strategies. In the event your loved one’s health is fine but he or she continues to be disengaged, create daily activities that enhance his or her communication skills. For example, instead of allowing your loved one to watch television all day, encourage him or her to turn the television off and have in-depth conversations with you and other family members.
Get More Help
In some cases, behavioral changes will happen regardless of the treatment your loved one is receiving. They could be due to a chronic disease and other health issues. One of the best ways to address behavioral changes is to get more assistance with daily caregiving duties. Having someone assist your loved one with age-related challenges may reduce the amount of pressure and stress you’re under. You can take daily breaks as well as extended time away. When you have more help, you can focus your time on self-care, which allows you to come back with a clearer mind and more energy to handle the behavioral changes your loved one continues to experience.
Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional elder care. Ambience In-Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life. Call us today at (469) 573-4213 to learn about our high-quality in-home care services.