What Are the Four Biggest Lessons You’ll Learn as a Caregiver to a Loved One with Dementia?
Elderly Care in Loveland OH: What Are the Four Biggest Lessons You’ll Learn as a Caregiver to a Loved One with Dementia?
Being a caregiver to a loved one with dementia will teach you quite a bit. You’ll learn a lot about your loved one’s ailment, but you’ll also learn quite a bit about yourself.
Your Loved One’s Behaviors and Actions Aren’t Personal
In the heat of the moment, it’s difficult to remember that your loved one’s actions and behaviors toward you aren’t really directed at you and they’re not personal. They can sure feel that way, though. Unfortunately, your loved one is dealing with an illness that is stealing her ability to reason. As such, she’s not able to act or to react appropriately in most situations.
Calm Patience Will Take You Farther
You can let yourself give in to the frustration, but that’s not really going to solve anything. The behaviors that you’re witnessing are a part of the disease. Approaching each situation with an attitude of calm patience is going to do so much more for you. Ultimately, that will also help your loved one because you’re calmer but also because your attitude will help influence the situation overall.
Your Loved One Might React to Pain, Fear, and Discomfort in New Ways
Many family caregivers find that these behaviors that they thought were a result of spite or anger are actually a new way for their loved one to express fear, pain, and discomfort. This is so common, in fact, that any time your loved one is responding in new or challenging ways, discomfort, pain, or fear should be the triggers you look for first. Only then can you resolve what’s causing the problem for your loved one.
Arguing Won’t Get You Anywhere
You can try arguing or attempting to reason with your elderly loved one, but just like anger or frustration, it’s not going to get you very far at all. The sooner that you can give up the need to be right or the need to correct your loved one, the more smoothly things will go for you both. This can take practice and patience, so prepare yourself.
Make sure that you have all the help that you need, whether that’s from other family members who are able to pitch in or from elderly care providers who give you time and space for yourself.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Loveland, OH, please contact the caring staff at Queen City Elder Care today. Serving Cincinnati and Surrounding Communities. Call Us Today (513) 510-4410.
Excerpt: As a caregiver to someone with dementia, you’ll find that you learn quite a few lessons from the experience. All of them can help you to be a better caregiver.
Michele Vollmer is a visionary leader who is perpetually searching for ways to improve, so to remain at the leading edge of the home care industry.She has served in the healthcare industry since 1989, including pharmaceutical and home health sales, as well as hospice sales and sales management.
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