What Can You Do if Repetitive Questioning from Your Loved One Is Driving You Crazy?
Is your elderly loved one asking you some of the same questions, over and over? This is called repetitive questioning and it can get old very quickly. It’s important to learn as much as you can about this behavior and what it can mean for your loved one.
Try to Understand the Source of the Repetitive Questioning
Your loved one may have health issues such as dementia that cause her to lose track of what she’s said and what you’ve said in response. The repetition may come in the form of actual questions or even statements or stories. She may repeat a series of questions or statements directly after each other or with a delay of a few hours.
It’s Comforting for Your Loved One
Most of the time, repetition is comforting for your loved one. Especially if her brain is not able to process information the way that it has in the past, focusing on this one aspect can soothe her. Hearing your responses can also be comforting, prompting her to continue. Your loved one may also have a need that isn’t being met. Looking deeper at the questions can help you figure out if this is the case.
Practice Patience
The best thing that you can do for your loved one when she’s engaging in repetitive questioning is to be as patient as you can with her. Depending on the cause of the repetition, your loved one likely has no conscious idea that she’s continuing to pepper you with the same question over and over. Take some deep breaths and remember to be kind and patient with your loved one.
Bring in Extra Help
As your loved one’s family caregiver, it’s also important to note that you’re human. Eventually, repetitive questioning gets very old and you might find yourself losing your patience. This is one of many reasons that taking regular breaks, including full afternoons or days away, can do a lot for you. Hire elder care providers to come in for the day or for the afternoon and then go somewhere that you enjoy. Relax and refresh yourself so that you can gear up for your next bout of repetitive questioning.
The key to managing repetitive questioning with your loved one is to remember that she’s not doing it to upset you. Getting to the root of the issue can help her to stop.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering elder care in Eufaula AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.
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