Aggressive episodes can be draining for you and for your aging adult, too. They’re a common response for people with dementia, but that doesn’t make them easier to manage.
Go Over What Happened
Afterward, take a few moments to go over what just occurred. If you can, write down some quick notes. Try to remember what happened right before the episode, what happened during, and how you’re senior reacted afterward. The more details that you can collect and record, the better. This might seem like an unnecessary step, but this is going to help you later.
Assess What Worked and What Didn’t
Chances are that you tried some things that didn’t work before you got to the solutions that did work for your senior. Not every “right” answer is going to be the right answer for every situation. But if you can understand why the answer that worked this time did work, that can give you insights into future episodes. Very often the solution is much simpler than you expected it to be, so don’t try to overthink this.
Take that Information to Your Senior’s Doctor
Some of the information that you’re gathering is information that can help your senior’s doctor to manage her care. There may be medication side effects that your senior is experiencing or other issues that have a medical cause. When you’re communicating openly with your senior’s doctor, you can find those solutions now and hopefully help your elderly family member to avoid having these same reactions in the same way in the future.
Find Ways to Support Yourself and Your Senior
This is not an easy situation for you to be in as your senior’s caregiver, but remember that it’s not easy for her, either. It’s frustrating and difficult to be unable to express what’s happening or to do anything about it. That’s where the aggressive behavior comes from in the first place. Joining a support group for caregivers helps a lot. It also helps to have assistance from home care providers who understand dementia and how it affects both of you. They can help you to narrow down triggers and to cope when you feel out of your element.
It’s vital that you use each aggressive situation as a learning tool for yourself. So many of these situations can be resolved before they’ve even begun, but you need to know what to look for so that you can put those solutions in place.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable Caregiver in Lawrenceville, GA, and surrounding areas. Call (678) 828-2195 for more information.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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