An elderly loved one can be negative at times or even chronically. While abrasiveness is upsetting to caregivers, it’s important to pinpoint the underlying cause. If the senior has always been this way, change will be impossible. But sudden negativity can be effectively addressed.
Some seniors have lived life looking at the glass half empty. These individuals tend to complain incessantly, maybe because it is the only way they know how to communicate. They may be unaware of how their behavior affects caregivers; constant pessimism makes staying upbeat challenging.
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Conversely, older adults who have always displayed a gentle disposition may suddenly deliver nothing but constant criticism. An aging mother might have always been kind, but now she frequently erupts in rage. An elderly father may have been one to let things slide, but now he’s become controlling.
Pessimistic behavior in seniors takes on many forms. Older people may continually start arguments or become angry over small issues. Some aging parents insist what their adult children do is not enough, then give them the silent treatment. Seniors may refuse to engage in necessary activities.
Personality changes such as these are red flags, especially when they become habitual. When the negativity is a new behavior, it should be remedied. More often than not, new habits are easier to address than those that have been ingrained into an individual over a lifetime.
1. UTIs can result in mood changes
Urinary tract infections are not uncommon in aging people. The physical symptoms are unpleasant, ranging from pain, burning and a persistent need to urinate. But behavioral symptoms manifest too, such as angry outbursts, irritability and confusion—these are often the only signs of infection.
2. Medications can influence behavior
Certain prescription drugs can impact a senior’s mood and behavior. Psychiatric medications, for instance, change a person’s brain chemistry in order to improve mood and behavior. But these drugs work differently in a senior’s brain, sometimes causing an existing condition to worsen.
Other drugs that have a negative impact on aging people’s personality include anti-seizure medicines, blood pressure medications, statins and anti-inflammatories. When sudden and ongoing pessimism erupts, it may be due to the drugs. Visit a doctor to check the medication, dosage and side effects.
3. Pain can cause irritability
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A senior’s quality of life diminishes when chronic pain lingers. Pain is difficult to tolerate physically, but it is also distressing mentally. Especially when compared to seniors without pain, chronic pain is associated with higher rates of negativity, from anger and hostility to depression, tension and anxiety.
Constant complaining from an aging loved one should prompt a visit to the doctor, who can check for changes to their health. Many seniors do not want to complain, hiding their actual source of discomfort and then venting frustrations about everything around them.
Caregivers can also look for physical signs of pain. Seniors with arthritic joint pain, for example, may limp, move more slowly or walk less. When indications of pain emerge, take the older adult to the doctor to be evaluated and receive treatments that relieve pain.
4. Boredom can trigger complaints
Without a strong sense of purpose, seniors may feel the urge to complain on an ongoing basis. Boredom, too, can cause bouts of negativity in older people. If they lack a meaningful activity to focus on, they tend to concentrate on the negative aspects of their lives.
The negativity and complaining are heightened when seniors are confronted with physical ailments that reduce their ability to function independently. Common age-related changes that can sour mood include limited mobility and reduced energy. For these seniors, complaining becomes a new hobby.
Rather than let elderly loved ones simmer in their negativity, work with them to find an enjoyable pursuit. Hobbies, recreational activities and crafts are excellent pathways that keep them active, engaged and fulfilled. An invaluable sense of purpose will also be reintroduced into their lives.
5. Dementia can alter behavior
While memory loss is commonly associated with dementia, behavior changes are also a possible outcome of the condition. Irritability can emerge as the senior realizes he is losing the ability to perform tasks that were once easy. Memory lapses are unavoidably frustrating.
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Significant personality changes are linked with the brain alterations caused by Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and other forms of dementia. Caregivers who suspect that the senior’s new behaviors are due to cognitive decline should schedule a complete physical and neurological evaluation.
Family caregivers may have a difficult time managing the care of seniors who consistently show negativity, complain or refuse to engage in activities. In such situations, handing off care to professional caregivers is the best way to preserve wellbeing and minimize exposure to negativity.
Assisting Hands Home Care offers comprehensive nonmedical care services to seniors in the comfort of home. Our companion care is valued by families and their elderly loved ones. Caregivers spend time with care recipients, learning about their interests and forming strong bonds.
Companion care can be instrumental in alleviating the boredom and lack of purpose that causes constant negativity. Our caregivers join seniors in recreational activities, supply them with craft supplies and take them on safe outings. Senior companionship revitalizes the elderly.
Our home care services also include help with personal hygiene tasks, meal preparation, medication reminders, grocery shopping and transportation to doctors’ offices, social activities or for errands. We promote the overall emotional and physical wellbeing of seniors with our wide range of services.
Care options from Assisting Hands Home Care are flexible and can be tailored to meet the individual needs of the senior. We offer respite care, 24-hour care, live-in care, post-operative care, hospice care and compassionate memory care. Care can be scheduled intermittently or on an ongoing basis.
Families in Batavia, Illinois, and the surrounding areas, place full trust in Assisting Hands Home Care to deliver reliable senior care. Our caregivers are licensed, bonded and insured. Schedule an in-home consultation with us. We’ll evaluate the senior’s care needs and develop a care plan.
Call Assisting Hands Home Care today at (440) 517-4623 for a free in-home care consultation.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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