Providing the proper care and attention for our elderly loved ones can sometimes be met with some challenging behavior. Below are 5 common problems and tips for handling them:
1. Excessively Needy and Demanding – Some seniors truly need 24-hour care and when this is the case, it is important to find a long-term care solution that meets those needs. Other times, the senior may start becoming more dependent over time and make increasingly frustrating demands on family caregivers. It is one thing to truly need assistance and another to make unnecessary demands on the time and attention of loved ones. Setting boundaries and sticking to them is crucial to avoid caregiver burnout. Having other distractions such as visitors and planned activities can also help. Some of the excessive demands stem simply from boredom. Finding ways to counteract the boredom may also alleviate some of neediness.
2. Extreme Financial Issues – Regardless of the amount of money your senior possesses, he or she may act in extreme manners that do not correlate with the actual net worth. For example, many seniors overspend and find themselves going into debt. Some take up gambling or fall victim to scams. In the other extreme, some seniors become so overly frugal, they refuse to pay for needed medications and healthy food. Keep in mind this issue is more about their ability to make decisions and remain independent than about the money itself. Mismanaging money may also be one of the first signs of dementia. To resolve this issue, you will likely need to bring in a third party to discuss the underlying issues. This may be a psychologist, geriatric specialist or even a financial advisor.
3. Paranoia, Delusions and Other Psychological Issues – Seniors can really frustrate caregivers when they start making false accusations or show constant anxiety about getting harmed by others. This behavior may be indications of paranoia, delusions or hallucinations. This is a warning sign of a more serious physical or mental condition. Validation is a good coping strategy because you should keep in mind that whatever the senior is seeing, hearing, or experiencing is very real to him or her. Try to make your loved one feel safe during the episodes and seek medical intervention quickly to determine the underlying issues.
4. Angry Outbursts– The pain and fatigue associated with aging can often exacerbate negative personality traits such as irritability and impatience. Minor moodiness can progress into angry outbursts and inappropriate behavior. Left unchecked the frustration can become so severe that it results in caregiver abuse. Start by attempting to explain to your loved one how the behavior makes you feel. The person may not have the self-awareness to realize how much the constant complaining and angry outbursts are affecting those around him or her. If that does not work, you may need to bring in neutral caregivers to provide you with some distance from the situation.
5. Poor Hygiene – There may be a variety of reasons why a senior loses interest in bathing, toothbrushing and wearing clean clothes. It may stem from depression, and if so, addressing the depression can often remedy the hygiene issues. It may also stem from modesty. The senior may not want to get undressed in front of others and finds that it takes more time and energy then can be mustered to do it alone very often. If this is the case, you may need to find a professional caregiver to assist that can help them learn to feel comfortable. Poor hygiene may also stem from forgetfulness, losing track of time or dulled senses. The first step is to determine the underlying reason why the senior is refusing proper hygiene maintenance. Do your best to address the issues and then develop a routine the senior finds tolerable.
At Stouffer Legal we understand the frustrations many caregivers feels as they do the best they can to provide proper care for senior loved ones. To ensure the best aging plan is in place, contact us to learn more about long-term care planning, retirement planning and estate planning for seniors. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at (443) 470-3599 or emailing us at office@stoufferlegal.com.
