It is not uncommon at all for caregivers to find that their aging adults express anger more often than any other emotion. Your elderly family member might fly into rages, or she might be snippy and snide every time she talks to you. But it could be possible for you to have a better relationship and help your elderly family member to ditch the anger.
Remember This Isn’t a Personal Attack
Hearing rages that sure sound personal makes it difficult to remind yourself that these outbursts aren’t about you. The problem is that your senior is angry in general and it’s safe to express that anger to you. She knows that you’re there for her and that you’re not going anywhere. While it’s wonderful that she has that faith in you and in your presence, you still don’t need to take abuse.
Find the Triggers
There is almost always some sort of trigger for this behavior. You may not realize or understand what that trigger is without all of the information, though. Your senior may be upset because of the changes that aging is bringing to her life, or she may be experiencing symptoms she doesn’t want to talk about, like pain or cognitive changes, that make her feel embarrassed and angry. Unfortunately, you’re in the firing line.
Set up an Appointment with Her Doctor
One way for you to get more information about what’s going on, especially if your elderly family member is reluctant to share with you is to make an appointment with her doctor. Her doctor can run tests and ask questions in a way that helps to get to the root of the issue. There may be an underlying medical condition that you can do something about.
Look out for Your Own Needs
In the end, you have got to be looking out for your own needs while you’re a caregiver. You can’t take this kind of behavior from someone that you love and be fine every day. Take breaks, both short ones during the day and longer breaks every week. Hire senior care providers to fill in for you and don’t shortchange yourself on that time away.
Facing someone else’s anger day in and day out is not an easy thing to do. It’s especially difficult when you’re already caring for your senior on a daily basis. Remember that it’s not about you and that you need to take care of yourself in order to keep being a caregiver.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Broadview, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
