Changes in physical and mental functioning can lead to feelings of frustration, hostility and anger. This is exactly what happens with your elderly parents or grandparents as they tend to age. While many amongst us try to help their parents; some might get into abusing them either verbally or physically. However, it may worsen the situation. Here are 5 simple tips that you can follow to manage your parents’ anger.
1. Provide your parents with patience and understanding. Elderly parents, particularly those approaching the end of their life, can be lonely and fearful. They might be sick or have watched friends and loved ones die. Demonstrating care and concern towards your parents can go a long way in quelling hostility and anger. Always remember, patience is integral to offering high-quality elderly care.
2. Spend time talking to your parents every day to assess their physical and mental well-being. Assure your parents you want to help and be receptive to their needs. Many elderly parents do not want to burden their child, so they may not tell you about illnesses, financial stresses or mental and physical pain they are feeling. A few of them might also want to move to a senior citizens home to lessen the burned on their children. Such information can be known by talking to the elderly.
3. Help your parents get involved in activities outside the home, if they are physically able to do so. Senior action centers, bridge or book clubs and senior volunteering are all wonderful ways to get your parents involved. Boredom and loneliness can lead to frustration, which is usually taken out on loved ones and close friends. These activities are an attempt to avert those feelings and bring about positive change.
4. Look into out-of-home care, if your elderly parents become unmanageable or do not seem to make any progress towards positive thinking using Steps 1 through 4. An elderly community could be helpful for your parents to rediscover relationships and a sense of purpose.
5. Take out time for self relaxation and recoup. Dealing with a difficult parent can be challenging, so taking care of you is important. The better you feel, the better you will be able to deal with your elderly parents.
