How to Deal with Mood Swings in Elderly Patients

How to Deal with Mood Swings in Elderly Patients

Dealing with the frequent mood swings of an elderly person can be very stressful, especially if that person happens to be your loved one. The first step toward coping with these mood swings is to realize that this bad behavior is not something that is done on purpose. From there, you can use the following ways to cope with an elderly person’s bad behavior.

Bursts of Rage or Anger

One of the most common types of behavior that people who are caring for the elderly find themselves having to deal with are frequent outbursts of anger that’s followed by yelling. It’s important for people who are caring for an elderly patient or loved one to understand that sometimes, both age and illness can intensify certain personality traits of an individual. This can lead them to become easily annoyed or irritable. Many times, things like not being able to find something can result in an outburst of anger and yelling, while other times, an elderly person might seem demanding.

As a person caring for an elderly individual, you need to understand that this rage is coming from a place of discomfort or a disability that is affecting the quality of life of the elderly in your care. One of the best ways of coping with this situation is by first listening to the elderly person’s complaints and understanding that due to age and illness, their negative words and actions are not under their control.

Refusing to Change Clothes or Bathe

Refusing to take care of their personal hygiene is another issue that may arise when taking care of an elderly person who is under your care. As a person ages, they may lose control of many functions, such as their vision, smell, or hearing, but the one thing that they do have control of is choosing when to change their clothes or take a shower.

More often than not, elderly people who refuse to take care of their personal hygiene are going through a bout of depression or are stressed because of an illness or disability. While personal hygiene is important regardless of one’s age, one way to deal with this situation is by not nagging them about changing their clothes or showering, which will only make them feel that you’re taking away control of the one thing they have.

First, you’ll need to find out the reason behind them not taking care of their personal hygiene. If they are depressed or stressed, then you might want to consult with their doctor. If their issue is modesty and they are not comfortable having someone else help them bathe, then you could ask them if they would like a professional care provider or a user of the family who can help them with changing clothes or cleaning up.

These were just some of the ways that you can ensure that your loved one is taken care of without feeling like a burden. Hiring professional in-home care services can ensure that your loved one is kept safe and comfortable.