Caregiving: You Moved In to Help Out, But It’s Not Going Well. Now What?

Posted in Caregiver Tips, Caregiving |

June 9, 2021

| by

Caregiving: Family caregivers often look at the benefits of moving in with their parents.

Almost half of all family caregivers live with the person they’re caring for. Does that make caregiving the best choice?

 

Caregiver in Ozark AL: Caregiving

Caregiver in Ozark AL: Caregiving

 

Granted, it’s easier to provide the care if you’re under the same roof.

Plus, older family members’ houses are often paid off, while family caregivers pay a mortgage or rent. If you didn’t have those living expenses, you could cut back on your work hours.

You commit and sell your house. You move in with your parents to help out. A month later, everyone is miserable. You worry that you’ve made a colossal mistake. What do you do when moving in with your parents just isn’t going well?

 

Discuss and Resolve the Conflicts

You’re all adults. It’s time to sit down and discuss where the conflicts are and how to resolve them. Your dad is upset that he doesn’t have the bathroom to himself. He found your teen daughter’s make-up on the counter. You’ll have to remind her to put things back when she’s done.

Your mom is annoyed that you’ve taken over her kitchen. Work with her to make sure she doesn’t feel left out. She’s used to cooking dinner, but now you’re doing it. Let her help. Give her tasks you know she can handle and cook together.

 

Does Your Parent Have Alzheimer’s or Another Form of Dementia?

Personality changes are expected in Alzheimer’s, and it also makes it very difficult to handle. Your mom flies into a rage accusing you of stealing her shoes. After tearing the house apart, you find her shoes in her pajama drawer. She hid them there, but she won’t remember.

When dementia causes paranoid or delusional behaviors, your parent won’t be the same. It would help if you had a backup plan in place. If you find your usually sweet mom is impossible to handle when the rage begins, you may want to hire professional caregivers to help you care for her.

 

Take Breaks When You Can

Everyone needs space for an arrangement like this to work. If your parents need constant assistance, you can still have time alone. Talk to a home care specialist and ask about respite care services.

Respite care is an important part of home care where caregivers go to their client’s home to provide breaks. Your parents have the help they need while you take your kids to the beach. You could use caregivers to have a day off to go shopping with your sister.

Caregivers are the best way to have the breaks you need. You’ll return to your parents’ house refreshed and ready for the next caregiving task on the list.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Ozark, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/content/

Dehydration: Top Tips to Help Prevent Dehydration in the Elderly

Posted in Dehydration, Senior Health |

May 20, 2021

| by

Dehydration: One of the main causes of elderly hospital visits during the summer is dehydration.

When caring for your elderly loved ones, it is important to make sure they stay hydrated. This does not mean they have to be drinking water all throughout the day. While water is a great choice, your elderly loved one can also eat things that have high water content. This includes peppers, watermelon, and other foods. Keep reading here to find out some of the top tips to help your elderly loved one prevent dehydration this summer.

 

Senior Care in Enterprise AL: DehydrationSenior Care in Enterprise AL: Dehydration

Senior Care in Enterprise AL: Dehydration

 

Always Have Water On-Hand

One of the ways that your elderly loved one can stay hydrated is to always have water on hand. The best way for them to do this is to have a water bottle they can fill up wherever they go. You can get them one of those water bottles that stay cold for a long time. If your elderly loved one doesn’t like their water cold, you can get them a normal water bottle. You and their senior care providers can give reminders to keep the water bottle full.

 

Lime or Lemon

Does your elderly loved one get tired of drinking plain water? Maybe they don’t really like drinking water in the first place. One of the things your elderly loved one can do is to add lime or lemon to their water. This can add some flavor. You could also get your elderly loved one a water bottle that has a fruit-infusion tube in it. Then, your elderly loved one can put blueberries or other fruit in the bottle. This can make their water taste even better and help to keep them from dehydration.

 

Hunger and Water

Does your elderly loved done eat every time they feel hungry? Did you know that sometimes, when a person feels hungry, they aren’t actually hungry? They are thirsty. If your elderly loved one is feeling hungry, but they have already eaten their previous meal, they should try drinking a bottle of water instead. This could fulfill their hunger and help them stay hydrated at the same time.

 

Tracking Water

Does your elderly loved one have a difficult time staying hydrated? Maybe they forget to drink water or can’t remember how much they drank. If this is the case, there are a couple of things that can be done. You can get your elderly loved one a 64-ounce water bottle that has numbers on the side. This way, they can fill it with the water they need throughout the day and drink it often. You or senior care providers can also make a note of how much water your elderly loved one is drinking. If they aren’t drinking enough, you can encourage them to drink more water to ward off dehydration.

 

Conclusion

These are some of the top things that can help to prevent dehydration in your elderly loved one. Hopefully, with these tips, your elderly loved one can stay hydrated and feel better this summer.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Enterprise, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources
https://medlineplus.gov/dehydration.html

Foot Care: Four Ways for Your Senior to Take Care of Her Feet

Posted in Foot Care, Senior Health |

May 5, 2021

| by

Your senior’s foot care health is a lot more important to her overall health than she might realize.

Often medical problems start out in the feet, so it’s vital to pay attention to these hardworking parts of the body. Here are a few ideas that can help your elderly family member to take the best care possible of her feet.

 

Elderly Care in Abbeville AL: Foot Care

Elderly Care in Abbeville AL: Foot Care

 

Avoid Walking Around with Bare Feet

Walking around barefoot might be your senior’s preference, but as she gets older it’s a bad idea. First, being barefoot can be a tripping hazard. It’s also important for your senior to realize that her feet are changing as she ages. They don’t have the same thickness of padding that they used to have, so walking around barefoot can create pain that she could avoid simply by wearing shoes and keeping ahead of her foot care needs.

 

Inspect Feet Daily

Make sure that your senior is washing and drying her feet daily. This is also a great time for her to carefully inspect her feet for any signs of trouble. Sores that she didn’t realize were there, peeling skin, or color changes can all be a sign of something bigger going on. Also, as your senior touches her feet, it’s important for her to notice if she feels that touch on her foot or not. Neuropathy, numbness, and other issues mean that there’s more happening with her health.

 

Watch How Toenails Are Trimmed

Toenails can be a big problem for your senior if she isn’t careful. Cutting toenails in a curve around the edge of her toe can contribute very quickly to painful ingrown toenails that can quickly become infected. The best way to trim toenails is to cut them straight across and carefully file any rough edges.

 

Foot Care: Talk to Her Doctor Right Away about Foot Pain

If your elderly family member is experiencing any changes to her feet, injuries, or foot pain at all, she needs to mention it to her doctor. Getting her doctor’s take on what is happening can help her to spot big issues well before they become severe. Injuries that your senior is convinced she can still walk on may be far more serious than she realizes.

Some aging adults find that it’s a lot more difficult to care for their feet as they grow older than it used to be. Elder care providers can help with foot care and other personal care tasks that help your senior to continue to be as safe and as healthy as possible.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Abbeville, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Alzheimer’s Disease Tips for Family Caregivers

Posted in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Care Tips |

April 14, 2021

| by

If your elderly loved one gets diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, your mind might be a whirlwind of thoughts.

Your heart might be a crazy mixture of emotions. This disease can take a huge toll on you, your elderly loved one, and on anyone else that is involved with your loved one. With this being said, there are some Alzheimer’s disease tips for family caregivers. These tips can help you provide better care for your elderly loved ones and their disease.

 

Home Care Services in Ozark AL: Alzheimer’s Disease Tips

Home Care Services in Ozark AL: Alzheimer’s Disease Tips

Organization and Simplicity

The first way to help your elderly loved one if they have Alzheimer’s disease is to organize and simplify things in their home. This disease is going to affect your elderly loved one’s memory. The messier the belongings are in your loved one’s home, the more difficult things will be in their memory. It is important that everything they have is in its place. If there are things they don’t need, either store these away or get rid of them. Keeping things simple is going to help your elderly loved one not to get so overwhelmed. After you have their house organized and more simple, you and home care providers can help to keep it that way.

 

Planning Nutrition and Meals

It is also important that you and home care providers help your elderly loved one with planning nutrition and meals. Once your elderly loved one’s disease advances, they are going to need more and more help with this. They aren’t going to remember which foods are healthiest for them and which ones aren’t. They aren’t going to remember how to cook or what ingredients are needed for certain recipes. This is where you and home care providers can help out. By taking over these things, you can make things easier on your elderly loved one.

Companionship is Necessary

It is important that your elderly loved one has companions around as much as possible. If you and home care providers can take turns coming around, this can keep your elderly loved one socialized. The conversations and activities that you do with your elderly loved one can keep their brain sharper. This can help to slow down the progression of symptoms with their disease. In addition, having someone around can help to ensure your elderly loved one’s safety. This companionship can help to prevent wandering, as well.

 

Conclusion

These are some of the Alzheimer’s disease care tips for family caregivers. If your elderly loved one has been diagnosed with this disease, don’t hesitate to reach out for any help that you need. You can get help from home care providers, doctors, support groups, and other places, as well. With the help you get and with these tips, hopefully, you can provide better care for your elderly loved one.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Ozark, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/getting-help-alzheimers-caregiving

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-caregiving-caring-yourself

Senior Health: How to Help a Senior Recover from Surgery

Posted in Senior Health, Surgery Recovery |

April 2, 2021

| by

Senior Health: Recovering from surgery is a big deal.

Your senior’s body has been through a traumatic event, even if it was a necessary surgery for her to have. Being prepared in advance for her to come home and to have her needs met is easier to do when you think through what she might need and want while she’s recovering.

 

 

Homecare in Daleville AL: Surgery Recovery

Homecare in Daleville AL: Surgery Recovery

Make Sure Her House Is Ready for Her to Come Home

It’s a good idea to make sure that your senior’s home is ready for her to come back. If she’s got a two-story home, she might need to temporarily relocate to the first floor while she recovers. Make sure that you check for any obstacles and that she’s got somewhere comfortable to rest. You might need to rearrange some things in order to make her home as safe as possible.

 

Run Errands and Prep Meals Before She Comes Home

If there are any prescriptions or durable medical equipment that your senior might need, see if you’ll be able to run those errands before your senior comes home. That helps to ensure that you’re not doing those things while your senior waits in the car or at home. Also, try to prepare some of her favorite meals and snacks in advance, so that it’s easier for both of you to help her to eat.

 

Think Ahead about What She’ll Need

You can’t possibly account for every single possibility but try to think ahead a little bit about what your senior might need. Is she going to have follow-up appointments or physical therapy? How will she get to those appointments? Will, she need help with mobility, bathing, and other tasks? If so, hiring elderly care providers is probably an excellent way to make sure that she’s got what she needs, when she needs it, for her senior health to be great.

 

Senior Health: Sometimes You Just Need to Be Supportive Emotionally

Don’t forget to support your senior emotionally as much as you can. Surgeries can take a mental and emotional toll on everyone involved. Your senior may need you to just be a shoulder and an ear for a little while. That’s something that is a lot easier to do than some of the other things she might need as she recovers.

Talk to your senior’s doctor about what all she should expect from recovery and your senior’s health. It’s always best to have as few surprises as possible when it comes to something like surgery.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Daleville, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Senior Scams – Top Ten Financial Scams for Seniors

Posted in Senior Safety, Senior Scams |

March 22, 2021

| by

 

Senior Care in Hartford AL: Senior Scams

Senior Care in Hartford AL: Senior Scams

 

Senior Scams:

As a caregiver, you not only have to help your parent enjoy life to the fullest mentally, physically, and emotionally, but you also need to protect her from those who may desire to harm her – especially financially.
Financial senior scams against the elderly are now considered the crime of the 21st century as criminals try to find ways to access your parent’s finances, whether she has $1 to her name or $1 million.

 

Here are the top ten senior scams that you and your parent will want to be aware of so that she isn’t lured into giving away secure information or her money to a scam artist – whether it’s a complete stranger, or sadly, even someone in her family.

 

1. Grandparent Scams

In this scam, a person calls claiming to be a grandchild. They may not even know the grandchild’s name but will start the conversation with “guess who this is?” or “this is your favorite grandson calling.” They then tell a story of woe and how they need some cash fast to fix it and ask your parent to send them money through some online means before anyone has a chance to stop her.

2. Sweepstakes Scams

An unexpected check is sent to your parent as “winnings” and all they have to do is cover the processing fees in order to claim it. Remind your parent that if she hasn’t entered a contest, she’s not going to win anything.

3. Homeowner Scams

If your parent is asked to provide money for a report to be generated or is requested to make a payment on something she didn’t sign up with her home, have her check the sources before that check is cut because it easily could be another scammer.

4. Investment Scams

If your parent is asked to invest in someone’s business, check out the business closely before she puts any money into it, even if it’s a business by a family member. Pyramid senior scams are all over the place and unfortunately, distant relatives sometimes like to take advantage of your parent’s retirement funds.

5. Internet Scams

One of the most important internet lessons your parent can learn is to never click on an unknown link, no matter how official the sender seems to be. A virus could be let loose on her computer, grabbing passwords and bank account or credit card information.

6. Charity Scams

Especially common after natural disasters, scam artists will call and ask for funds to help the victims of whatever natural disaster just happened. If your parent’s heart is moved to give money to help those in need, have her connect with well-known and established charities.

7.Anti-aging  Senior Scams 

Fraudulent products that produce no results are the basis of this scam. Your parent could spend copious amounts of cash on a product that costs pennies to produce and has no results. Always check reviews of a product before buying too much of it.

8. Medicare/Insurance Senior Scams

The perpetrator will get personal information from your parent and then use that information to create fake medical bills to send to the insurance and pocket the payments.

9. Funeral  Senior Scams

Watch out for funeral homes that require prepayment and then bill for only the most expensive and lavish products.

10. Prescription Scams

Finally, while hunting for the best prescription price is good, in this senior scam, people will provide prescriptions that are not approved or accurate – and a very dangerous game for your parent. Keeping her on approved prescription sites is best for her safety, even when the prices seem ludicrous.

 

Usually, the best bet for scams is to ask someone else what they think or Google the resource requesting the information or money. Almost all things can wait until they are verified so encourage your parent to never simply trust someone or something she receives. She should check with you or any other caregiver in her life first.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Hartford, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

What Should You Do if Your Senior Isn’t a Safe Driver?

Posted in Home Care Services in Hartford AL, Senior Care in Hartford AL |

March 4, 2021

| by

When you first realize that your elderly family member might not be safe behind the wheel of her car, you might be tempted to make some rash decisions. It helps if you stop and think before taking action.

 

Home Care Services in Hartford AL: Safe Driver

Home Care Services in Hartford AL: Safe Driver

 

Make Sure You’re Viewing This from a Safety Standpoint

In some ways, it might be a lot easier for you if your senior couldn’t drive any longer. You might worry less, for instance, and you might know where she is at all times. These aren’t bad reasons, necessarily, but the most important aspect of your senior’s ability to drive is whether it’s safe for her to do so or not. You run the risk of infantilizing her if you approach this from other angles, and that’s not good for either of you.

 

Understand Why This Is Difficult for Your Senior

This conversation is going to be tough, most likely. There are a lot of reasons that it will be complicated, and it’s important that you’re aware of those reasons so that you can help your senior through this. Your elderly family member faces a lot of challenges, especially if her health is not as good as it once was. This is just another area of life in which she’s losing abilities, and that’s not easy to reconcile. Keep that in mind as you talk.

 

Set Aside Some Time for an Honest Talk

This isn’t a conversation that you can have quickly or without both of you being honest with each other. You and your elderly family member need to both have time to explore and to express how you’re feeling and what you think about what’s happening. That might mean that you even revisit the conversation more than once so that you can both get to where you need to be.

 

Ensure Your Senior Has Options

Your elderly family member absolutely needs options with all of this. Just because she’s not able to drive any longer, that doesn’t mean that she should be stuck at home. There are more options available than you and your senior might realize, including the possibility of hiring senior care providers to do the driving for your elderly family member.

Not driving might even be a temporary situation, depending on your senior’s health and other needs. Talk to her about all possible scenarios and help her to find the answers that serve her in the best possible way.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Hartford, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Is It Just a Cold or RSV?

Posted in Home Care in Headland AL, Homecare in Headland AL |

February 17, 2021

| by

The common cold looks almost identical to a more serious condition called respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, for short.

RSV starts out with typical cold symptoms, especially runny nose, coughing, phlegm, and a low temperature. But, unlike the cold, RSV can progress to pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and even death. Some scientists are saying that RSV is just as dangerous to people over 65 as influenza is.

 

Home Care in Headland AL: Cold or RSV

Home Care in Headland AL: Cold or RSV

 

Yet seniors can be vaccinated against the flu. So far, there is no vaccine for RSV. And the Centers for Disease Control estimate that fourteen thousand people over 65 die because of RSV every year.

 

A Particular Risk For the Elderly

RSV has long been a health problem for the very young. Doctors test babies for RSV if the cold-like symptoms get worse or persist over many days. Of late, scientists and doctors have agreed that RSV represents a danger for people over 65 as well, especially those who have underlying health issues.

Seniors at high risk for RSV complications are those who have:

  • Asthma
  • Heart disease
  • Lung disease
  • A compromised immune system from an auto-immune disorder or use of immunosuppressants.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

 

Protect Your Senior From Contagion

You can protect your senior from getting RSV through you, by washing your hands before having contact with your senior, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in the senior’s home, staying away from sick people, and avoiding contact with your senior if you are sick. If you bring your children to see your parent, be sure that they are not sick, and it’s a good idea to clean and disinfect their toys if your parent is going to handle them while playing with his grandchildren.

Many people recover on their own from RSV. Over-the-counter medications, like decongestants, antihistamines, and NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like aspirin and acetaminophen may alleviate pain and congestion.

 

Treatment

If, however, a senior’s symptoms worsen and he struggles to breathe, he will need to go to the hospital. There, treatments include intravenous fluids to keep the patient hydrated, oxygen and other supportive interventions as needed. Because RSV is a virus, antibiotics are not used in treatment.

A hospital setting is the best way to ensure that RSV does not progress to pneumonia; the hospital is also the best place to treat pneumonia when RSV does progress.

Elder care aides can be very helpful in observing the symptoms of a cold. These elder care professionals will let you know if the symptoms worsen or if your parent’s cold now seems to make it difficult to breathe. If called upon to do so, elder care aides can get your parent to the emergency room for treatment.

In conclusion, RSV is a threat to many elderly people, especially those who already have breathing disorders. However, with early detection and hospitalization, it can be successfully treated. The patient has a good chance of making a full recovery. Make sure someone, like a home care provider, is checking on your parent if he or she is living alone, to make sure he or she is maintaining good health.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/it-bad-cold-or-rsv

https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html

https://www.nfid.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/rsv-report.pdf

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16038573/

Downsizing May Be the Secret to Aging in Place

Posted in Elderly Care in Geneva AL, Home Care Services in Geneva AL |

February 5, 2021

| by

It may come as no surprise that the population of people, age 65 and older, is growing, and will continue to grow. But baby boomers, who are currently entering old age en masse, don’t want to fade away into assisted living facilities.

 

Elderly Care in Geneva AL: Downsizing

Elderly Care in Geneva AL: Downsizing

 

Baby boomers want to age in place. And, if they were previously resistant to the idea of going to a nursing home, the COVID-19 pandemic has solidified that resolution. “Not ending up in that death trap” sums up the feeling of many seniors.

Several writers have noted, however, that the classic two thousand square foot home with a second story and a washing machine in the basement is not the best place to pass your eighties and nineties. And, with medical advancements, there’s a good chance your mom or dad, or both will live that long.

 

Seniors Are Going to Need Help

According to a report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, seventy percent of people alive today are going to need some kind of long-term care once they have passed the age of sixty-five.

Seniors who go to nursing homes should expect to pay six thousand dollars a month or more for what may or may not be life-enhancing or life-prolonging services.

By contrast, home care for seniors is often much more affordable. Many seniors will need help, but possibly only two hours of help a day, starting out. With home care, seniors can opt for exactly the services they need. Perhaps shopping for groceries and doing lawn care has become difficult. With home care, a senior can pay for only those services until she needs more help than that.

Family members often find themselves helping their parents a few hours a week, with laundry, changing light bulbs, and cleaning, for example. However, adult children of seniors have their own jobs and need to prepare for their own retirements. Ideally, a parent or grandparent does not become a full-time job that hurts you financially.

 

Downsizing Makes Aging in Place More Affordable

If your mother still lives in the three-bedroom, two-bath home in which she raised you and your siblings, it could be a good time to discuss downsizing. You can reduce the amount of help a senior needs and minimize her fall risks by helping her move into a smaller home in a convenient location.

A smaller home is less space to clean, which means less maintenance that has to be provided by family or professionals. Utility bills, taxes, and homeowner’s insurance will all be lower on a smaller house.

Condominiums in buildings with elevators can be a good choice. Smaller, single-family homes with few or no stairs can also make a huge difference in mom’s ability to age in place.

 

Things to look for in a smaller home

In addition to obvious things like stairs and other fall risks, homes that feature the following will make it easier for seniors to age in place:

  • Easy access to parking if your senior still drives a car.
  • Safe, walk-in shower or bath with no stairs or dividers that are going to cause trips and falls.
  • Small, but efficient kitchen with built-in microwave and dishwasher.
  • Vinyl or cork floors. The texture is good for deterring falls.
  • Wheelchair compliant sidewalks and easements if your loved one is in a wheelchair.
  • Good location near family members who are providing care, near groceries, pharmacy, and perhaps a senior center.
  • Minimal yard. Rubber mulch instead of grass will make lawn care less of a headache.
  • Combination washer and dryer.

In conclusion, seniors want to age in place, and their adult children want that for them while also keeping them safe. Downsizing is a compromise that parents and children may be able to achieve with tactful conversations. Many seniors enjoy the benefits of a small, efficient home, and such homes make it easier to help and to afford hired help.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Geneva, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources

https://www.forbes.com/

https://aspe.hhs.gov/

https://www.seniorliving.org/

https://www.nytimes.com/

Coping With A Paranoid Parent

Posted in Elderly Care in Enterprise AL, Home Care Services in Enterprise AL |

January 21, 2021

| by

It’s perfectly normal to be mistrustful of some people, some of the time. But what do you do if a beloved parent no longer trusts you? What do you do if he thinks his neighbors of twenty years are trying to poison him?

This sounds like a worst-case scenario, and it is. Unfortunately, a percentage of people over 65 do develop signs of psychosis, which may include delusions and paranoia. And this can occur even if a parent has no history of mental illness.

 

Elderly Care in Enterprise AL: Coping with paranoia

Elderly Care in Enterprise AL: Coping With Paranoia

 

Unfortunately, science understands very little about how or why psychosis can turn up, for the very first time, in someone who is very old. What we do know is that there are definite aggravating circumstances such as:

  • Social isolation. It’s been said before, but social isolation is very dangerous for people over 65. Being too alone for too long can lead to paranoia, psychosis, and dementia.
  • Untreated hearing or vision loss. Being unable to see and hear what people are saying makes older people afraid and vulnerable. This can lead down the path of paranoia and delusions.
  • Brain deterioration, especially in the frontal and temporal brain lobes.

 

Rule out treatable causes

Make sure that it’s paranoia and not the truth. Old people do get taken advantage of in many ways, via mail fraud, telephone sales fraud, door to door sales fraud, etc. Look into the accusation to determine if your parent really did get abused or cheated.

A brain tumor can cause what looks like symptoms of mental illness, so a biological source needs to be ruled out. Similarly, symptoms of psychosis can coincide with Parkinson’s disease. And delusions can even be a side effect of certain medications. Paranoia and delusions are often symptoms of dementia, so an accurate diagnosis is critical.

 

How to cope in the moment

  • Don’t contradict or try to logic them out of it. Delusions do not respond to logic, so trying to prove that a parent is wrong is not the way to go.
  • Play along. This is perhaps the hardest thing for adult children to do. But, yes, at the point that a beloved parent is imagining things, you may have to just lie to them. This means pretending to live in the world of their delusions. Otherwise, they may turn their mistrust on you.
  • Don’t take accusations seriously. If a parent is accusing others of stealing or taking advantage of him, it’s likely that, at some point, he will accuse you of something similar.
  • Empathize with their fear. Say things like, “I’m scared too. Yes, that was very frightening.”
  • Offer to help look for lost items.
  • Create a distraction. Fortunately, it might be fairly easy to say, “Okay, we’ll discuss that later (or we’ll look for your hearing aids later). Would you like to make some hot chocolate?”
  • Ask for help. This might sound like, “I really need your help with something. Could you remind me how to bake a chicken?”
  • Hire home care. Dealing with a delusional and/or paranoid parent is extremely tiring. If at all possible, you must share the load. Hiring home care is the best and most obvious choice for many families. Home care aides have specific training and experience in dealing effectively with paranoid and delusional clients.

In conclusion, parents can become severely paranoid and delusional with little warning. It’s important not to neglect your own care and well being in trying to help them. This may not be a job you can do alone. If you have not hired home care, this would be a great time to consider it.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Enterprise, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

https://www.nia.nih.gov/

https://www.tn-elderlaw.com/