Being a caregiver often means taking care of an aging relative when their poor health prevents them from being completely independent. Even though getting some help may be the best thing for the aging loved one, they resist the help and drag their heels. When dealing with a stubborn senior, family caregivers may seem as if they are out of options. However, there are several ways that family caregivers and their aging relatives can come together in harmony.
Why Do Aging Parents Become Stubborn?
Stubborn elderly parents usually don’t occur overnight. Often, this behavior change is the result of several months or years of physical and mental decline. It is extremely frightening for an aging person to lose their ability to do things they once did and the fear of losing their independence is a big part of that. The transition between aging parents and adult children can bring up a lot of emotions that cause them to resist receiving help. The role reversal can leave some seniors angry, afraid and argumentative.
Some of the reasons why elderly parents feel the need to resist help and stubbornly refuse change include:
- Worry about their health and wellness
- Fear of losing independence
- Unhappiness at the way someone else does things
- Irritation at family getting in their business
- Embarrassment at needing help with basic self-care
- Angry at having less control in their lives
- Grief at losing a spouse, friend or other family member
- Fighting with depression and anxiety
- Dealing with loneliness and isolation
- Suffering with the early to middle stages of dementia
Family caregivers can gain a better understanding to why their aging parent is growing more stubborn when they talk about their fears and worries and try to come up with solutions together.
How Elder Care Providers Can Help
One of the ways that elderly adults can be convinced to accept help is by hiring a professional elder care provider. These assistants are trained in how to best help aging men and women live as independently as possible while still being there to aid as needed. Elder care providers are often able to make gains in behavior and attitude where family caregivers cannot. They know how to make compromises that leave the elderly person with plenty of autonomy and self-esteem yet don’t jeopardize their health and wellness.
Family caregivers that are facing the uphill battle in getting their aging parent to accept an changes or help may find that an elder care provider is the best way to move forward. Having a professional interact with the elderly person eliminates a lot of the emotional entanglements that happen between seniors and family members. Besides being professionally trained elder care providers, these assistants know what it takes to keep seniors happy and well-cared for.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/caring-for-the-elderly/art-20048403
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE ARE CONSIDERING ELDER CARE IN SUN CITY WEST, AZ, CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY (623) 748-3301.