What Can You Do When Your Elderly Loved One Loses Her Cool?
Dealing with an outburst from your elderly loved one can be extremely upsetting for both of you. The changes that dementia makes to your loved one’s brain don’t always give her the proper pathway to reason through situations, leading to unpredictable actions on her part.
Keep Calm Yourself, if You Can
If both you and your elderly loved one are freaking out, you’re not going to get anywhere with the situation. You are much more likely to be able to get results if you can keep your wits about you, so breathe deeply and do what you can to release your own anxiety. The added benefit of you staying calm is that this can sometimes work to allow your loved one to calm down, too.
Don’t Worry about What Other People Might Say
These types of outbursts can definitely happen when you and your loved one are at home alone, but they’re just as likely to happen when you’re out in public together. Chances are very good that you’ll find that mortifying in the extreme, but you can’t worry about what anyone else might say. Smile and let them know that your loved one has dementia if you’re comfortable sharing that information.
Figure out if There’s Something You Can Fix Now
Quite often, your loved one has a reason for reacting the way that she has, even if that reason doesn’t make sense right then. Your loved one might have a need, such as going to the bathroom, and she can’t figure out how to meet that need on her own. This can often be why your loved one is fine at home and has outbursts when you go out. Unfamiliar environments make meeting her own needs more difficult.
Talk to Your Loved One’s Doctor
If your loved one’s outbursts are increasing in frequency or even in severity, you might want to talk with her doctor. There could be underlying health conditions, such as a bladder infection, that haven’t shown other signs or symptoms. Ruling out medical causes can help you and your loved one to decrease the risk of an outburst significantly.
Consider hiring elder care providers to help you learn what to look for in these situations. They can help you to spot situations you might not have noticed otherwise.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring professional elder care services in Modesto CA, please contact the caring staff at Valley HomeCare.
