There’s a stereotype about elderly people that they are all kind and friendly, like the sweet grandma or aging gentleman. While this may be true for a lot of seniors, there are also times when they can be extremely stubborn, especially when they are dealing with family caregivers. Relationships between an elderly relative and their family caregiver are usually complex and can lead to tension and heightened emotions. In order to get along, family caregivers need to think about what to do with stubborn elderly relatives.
Why Some Seniors Become Stubborn
It is extremely stressful to grow old and many elderly adults try to hold onto their independence and abilities as long as they can. Despite health issues that limit their ability to do daily tasks, elderly adults often refuse help or hide the fact that they need it. They can stubbornly refuse to do things that are in their best interest, such as wear hearing aids, visit a doctor or hire an elder care provider. Family caregivers are left in the position of trying to keep their aging relative safe and healthy, even though the recipient doesn’t want the attention.
Seniors may be stubborn for a number of reasons. They could be worried about losing control of their own lives or giving up their home. Many elderly adults battle depression or live in grief after losing a loved one. Still others suffer from dementia, which can cause erratic behavior even in the early stages. When family caregivers try to understand what their aging relative is going through, it can sometimes help with communication.
How to Deal with Stubborn Seniors
Caregivers are already dealing with a lot of responsibility in looking after their elderly relative. But when that person doesn’t want the care and refuses to do what is best, there are still a few options. One of these is to hire an elder care provider. These are professionals that are trained to work with seniors. Because there is no family history between the elder care provider and the aging adult, many elderly people are often more willing to interact and even participate.
Elder care providers are experienced in empowering the elderly person through compromise. They also know how to step back and let the aging adult do for themselves when they can. This helps the senior to feel somewhat in control of themselves and their lives, while still being under the watchful eye of the elder care provider. Slowly, the elder care provider gets the results they desire.
Transitioning from an independent adult into an elderly person that must receive daily care is hard for anyone to handle, but stubborn seniors can make their situation worse without realizing it. For stubborn seniors that won’t work with their family caregiver, it may be time to bring in an elder care provider to take over some or all of the care. Instead of fighting, family caregivers and their elderly loved ones can focus on spending quality time together without stubbornness getting in the way.
Source:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-shore/elderly-parent-caregivers_b_823443.html
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME ELDER CARE IN SUMMERLIN, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY 702-800-4616.