User talk:Diamond Ogbonnaya Onuoha

June 2024
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WAYS OF STAYING WITH OLD PARENT DURING THEIR OLD AGE
HOW TO DEAL WITH OLD PEOPLE Diamond Ogbonnaya Onuoha (talk) 22:43, 17 June 2024 (UTC)

WAYS OF STAYING WITH OLD PARENT DURING THEIR OLD AGE
WAYS OF STAYING WITH OLD PARENTS DURING THEIR OLD AGE:

Continues:-

HOW TO DEAL WITH OLD PEOPLE

Good morning,good afternoon and good evening ladies and gentlemen...

Depend the place and time u are reading this article from.

On this part of article,we are going to be discussing on the topic above.

Under the topic we are going to look into

* How to communicate with difficult seniors and older Adults

* How to cope with living with an elderly parent

*Types of Care

* Learning ways to cope can help you continue to approach dealing with aging parents with compassion and empathy.

* Quick guide: Caring for an elderly parent,etc.

No.1

How to communicate with seniors and old er Adult

Seniors need to feel relevant and respected. They also need your compassion.

Do you know a difficult older adult in your life? We live in a society where the post-World War II Baby Boomer Generation (born 1946-1964) is reaching their senior years in ever-growing numbers, and representing an increasingly larger segment of the population. Higher standards of living and medical advancements are extending life expectancies in many countries to well above the age of eighty.Caring for, and having successful relationships with older adults often requires unique communication skills and strategies. Below are a few tips for successful communication with seniors. Not all of these ideas may apply to your particular situation or the older adult(s) involved. Simply use what works and discard the rest. For in-depth information on successful communication with difficult and resistant seniors.

1. Exercise Patience and Compassion

It goes without saying that patience and compassion are often needed when dealing with the elderly. Physical challenges, slow movement, forgetfulness, neediness, and apathy are just some of the behaviors you might encounter. Sometimes it’s easy to lose patience and become frustrated. One might even be tempted to give up and walk away.

During these moments, it’s very helpful to put yourself in the senior’s shoes, even for just a moment. Consider the older adult you’re dealing with, and complete the sentence: “It must not be easy…” or “It must be hard…” For example:

“She’s being so apathetic. It must not be easy to live without her friends around.”

“He does everything so slowly. It must be hard to deal with arthritis every day.”

Having empathy for the older adult is an effective way to generate more patience and compassion. If, despite your best efforts, your patience still runs thin, take a time out from the older adult if possible. Come back when you’re in a calmer state of mind.

2. Ask Instead of Order

As mentioned in an earlier section, one of the core needs of many seniors is to feel relevant and respected. You can help validate these needs by frequently asking instead of ordering when communicating with the older adult. For example:

Instead of: “You’re having soup for lunch today.”

Say: “Would you like to have some soup for lunch?” or

“We’re having soup for lunch today, okay?”

Better yet, offer options: “Would you like to have soup or salad for lunch today?”

Asking questions offers the senior a greater sense of respect and regard. Offering options gives her or him a greater sense of control of the immediate environment.niors, ask and follow up without necessarily waiting for an answer. Let them feel they’re part of the decision-making process and have a degree of control over some aspects of their lives.

3. Ask Instead of Assume

Similarly, ask questions instead of making assumptions when it comes to your actions in relation to the older adult. For example, instead of turning the lights off in the senior’s room without asking, say, “I’m going to turn off the lights for you, okay?” If the senior protests, let her have her way if it’s harmless. Otherwise, explain why it’s important for you to do what you need to do (in most cases for the sake of senior’s health and well-being).

4. Use “I” instead of “You” Language

We know from the study of effective communication that people (including many older adults) generally don’t respond well when they feel like they’re constantly being ordered what to do. Such “bossy” language is often manifested in the use of “you” statements, followed by a directive. For example:-

“You must exercise today!”

“You have to take your medicine!”

“You should air out your room!”

“You need to finish your soup!”

“You better not miss the doctor’s appointment!”

When people feel like they’re being bossed around on a regular basis, they’re more likely going to respond with what psychologists call the “three Fs — fight, flight, and freeze," leading to behavioral problems such as argument, avoidance, or stonewalling.



5. Offer Choices Whenever Possible

Many older adults desire to maintain a sense of independence. This may be especially important when seniors feel their physical and cognitive limitations, but still desire ways to maintain some level of local control in their lives.

Whenever possible and appropriate, offer an older adult choice when interacting with her or him. This can be something as simple as asking whether the senior would like to have choice A or choice B for lunch. Having the ability to exercise choice can provide the older adult a greater sense of confidence, esteem, and security, as the senior feels the power to be proactive in life.

6. Set Consequences

The ability to identify and assert consequence(s) is one of the most important skills we can use to "stand down" a difficult person. Effectively articulated, consequence gives pause to the challenging senior and compels her or him to shift from obstruction to cooperation. In my book How to Communicate Effectively With Seniors, consequences are presented as seven different types of power you can utilize to affect positive change.

In conclusion, to know how to handle unreasonable and difficult people is to truly master the art of communication. As you utilize these skills, you may experience less grief, greater confidence, better relationships, and higher communication prowess. You are on your way to leadership success!

No.2

How to cope with living with an old person.:-

Living with an elderly person has both rewards and challenges for everyone involved. But we also need to respect the need of older people to feel self-sufficient and independent, while also offering assistance where assistance is needed. Both parties need to be patient and understand their unique living situation in order to make it work. Ultimately, as all people are different, all situations will be unique as well, and everyone will face unique challenges. But if both parties are open to communicating with each other, then the living situation will be a happy and mutually beneficial one.


 * 1) 1  Communicate with your elderly roommate. Communication is the most important element of any relationship. If you don’t communicate, you won’t know each other’s problems and concerns. As a result, you won’t be able to form a relationship that is respecting of both of your unique qualities.
 * 2) 2 Define boundaries. Both parties need to define boundaries and come to a mutual agreement about each other’s space, independence, and autonomy. You need to understand what your elderly person is comfortable with when it comes to being assisted or being subtly monitored to make sure they are okay.
 * 3) * Talk to them about their expectations about your relationship. What do they expect of you in terms of assistance and interaction?
 * 4) * Discuss use of shared space like the bathroom, kitchen, or living room.
 * 5) * Come to an agreement about under what circumstances family or friends will visit.
 * 6) * Discuss use of each other's personal belongings, like dishes, appliances, and even food.
 * 7) * 3 Figure out finances. Figure out who pays for what ahead of time. Having finances decided and agreed upon ahead of time could save you from a headache or even legal fees in the future. Records will make a big difference here, so if you start out knowing who pays for what, and have it written down, you are ahead of the game. Also, consider the following:
 * 8) ** Include relatives in discussions about money. If you’re going to be living with an elderly family member, make sure to speak with your other relatives to be transparent about your financial agreement. Be open to their feedback, especially if they will be contributing to the cost. This will help you avoid problems and resentment in the future.
 * 9) ** Consider the cost. If you will be covering the cost of your elderly relative, be informed about the costs. One recent study found that caregivers spend about $5,500 per year caring for elderly relatives. Another study concluded that caregivers spent almost $15,000 a year caring for their elderly relative.
 * 10) **# 4 Give the person respect as an individual. Avoid treating the person like a child. Older people have experienced life much more deeply than we often appreciate, and have many more life experiences. Ask your elderly person questions about their life, what they think, and what they care about.
 * 11) **# 5 Give the person privacy. When possible, they should have as much privacy and personal space as it is practical to allow. Don’t turn yourself into a caregiver or a nurse without need or invitation and don't violate their personal space. Always communicate first if you are concerned about your elderly roommate.
 * 12) **# 6 Support the older person's autonomy. Let him or her make their own choices and do not substitute your own judgement for theirs. Every adult has the capacity to make at least some, if not all, of his or her own decisions, so help enhance the person's capacity to do and choose as much as possible for himself or herself. Don't assume merely because of advanced age that people cannot manage their own affairs, even if you do not agree with them.
 * 13) **# 7 Appreciate their wisdom and life experiences. You’re the younger person with less experience. Your elderly roommate probably has wisdom and experience well beyond your own. Talk to them and ask them for guidance on issues that pertain to both of you.
 * 14) **# 2 Part 2 of 3:

Organizing Your Home and Making it Accessible and Safe

 * 1) 1  Make sure the house is accessible. Depending on the older person’s physical condition, you will need to consider several things in order to make your home accessible.
 * 2) * Install mobility aids if the person needs them. Consider grab bars at the toilet and bath tub. Also consider a shower seat. In addition, consider a wheelchair ramp or an electric wheelchair lift.
 * 3) * Protect the person from the potential dangers of stairs. Think about this if the older person is needs to access any areas that are not on the main level of a home.
 * 4) * Equip your home with handicap accessible features. Is the bathroom big enough to handle a wheelchair or walker if necessary? For a wheelchair, the doorway needs to be at least 32 inches wide, and preferably 36 inches.

3 Part 3 of 3:
 * 1) ** 2 Keep the house organized and uncluttered. Your house should be organized and uncluttered, especially in a situation where the person has limited mobility, uses a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility assistance, or their eyesight is poor. After all, you want your elderly roommate to be able to move around without tripping or bumping into things.
 * 2) *** If hoarding is a problem for your elderly housemate, then you may need to discuss this with them and encourage them to find help for their hoarding.
 * 3) * 3 Make sure the house has HVAC, telephone, and even an emergency panic system. Heating, ventilation, and a cooling system are extremely important for older people who might have chronic conditions or are more sensitive to the elements. In addition, you should have a telephone and possibly a panic system so that your roommate can call for help or contact emergency response workers if there is some sort of accident.
 * 1) *** If hoarding is a problem for your elderly housemate, then you may need to discuss this with them and encourage them to find help for their hoarding.
 * 2) * 3 Make sure the house has HVAC, telephone, and even an emergency panic system. Heating, ventilation, and a cooling system are extremely important for older people who might have chronic conditions or are more sensitive to the elements. In addition, you should have a telephone and possibly a panic system so that your roommate can call for help or contact emergency response workers if there is some sort of accident.

Watching out for the Elderly Person’s Welfare

 * 1) 1  Understand their abilities and limitations. As different people have different problems and abilities as they age, you need to quickly determine what kind of abilities and/or assistance they will need. If they have decreased abilities and physical or mental limitations, there are several factors you need to consider:
 * 2) * What is the person's physical and mental condition and what chronic illness does the person have? If so, you need to take these into account and prepare for them.
 * 3) * Is the person of sound mind? If your elderly roommate has or is developing dementia or Alzheimer’s, you need to seriously consider what you are going to do to keep that person safe. Visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp for more information.
 * 4) * Is the person physically able to take care of themselves? If not, make sure the elderly person always has someone around to look after them. If you work outside the home, then the day may come where you have to hire some in-home help to care for the older person.
 * 5) 2 Consider the level of assistance you and your family can provide. You need to know what help and how much time you can commit to possibly assisting an elderly person that you live with. If you will have to provide a lot of assistance, this may create unanticipated stresses in your life.
 * 6) * Be realistic about the level of help your elderly roommate might need. This might increase over time.
 * 7) * Know your limits and your comfort with helping the person with basic things like dressing, bathing, and going to the bathroom.
 * 8) * Think about your schedule. Consider this if you have a full-time career and children.
 * 9) * 3 Keep records for them if they are not able to. If the person is not a family member, you should have their family’s contact information. If the person is comfortable with this, you should also have their emergency medical information, and know where their important documents are in case of emergency. This way, you'll have all the information you need in the event of an emergency.
 * 10) * 4 Know what medications they’re taking. If the person needs the help, familiarize yourself with what medications they take in case there is an accident or medical emergency. Also be aware of drug interaction warnings, and instructions for taking medicine which requires either fasting, or taking with food.
 * 11) * 5 Help the person with keeping their basic grooming presentable. Often elderly people cannot trim finger and toenails, comb or brush their hair, or put on and tie shoes. This is an important thing in order to make sure someone stays confident and ready to interact with others. If you want, help them if they have trouble, but only if they consent.
 * 12) * 6 Watch out for scammers and frauds. Unfortunately, there are people who take advantage of and prey on older people, including con-men, salespeople, and people claiming to represent religious organizations. Such people will solicit money from older people by taking advantage of their good nature or lack of proper information.
 * 13) ** Turning these people away at the door, or simply asking your elderly roommate about their daily interactions over dinner might prevent this. This will not just protect your elderly roommate from financial disaster, but it will also save you a headache in dealing with the repercussions.
 * 14) ** 7 Understand their dietary needs, including sugar or salt intake. Older people are often on restricted diets, and are tempted just like the rest of us. If your elderly roommate is suffering from memory problems, they might even forget about their own dietary needs. But remember, don't nag or be overly aggressive when it comes to this. Respect their choices, while watching out for their welfare.

3

Keep records for them if they are not able to. If the person is not a family member, you should have their family’s contact information. If the person is comfortable with this, you should also have their emergency medical information, and know where their important documents are in case of emergency. This way, you'll have all the information you need in the event of an emergency.3

Part 3 of 3:

Watching out for the Elderly Person’s Welfare

 * 1) 1  Understand their abilities and limitations. As different people have different problems and abilities as they age, you need to quickly determine what kind of abilities and/or assistance they will need. If they have decreased abilities and physical or mental limitations, there are several factors you need to consider:
 * 2) * What is the person's physical and mental condition and what chronic illness does the person have? If so, you need to take these into account and prepare for them.
 * 3) * Is the person of sound mind? If your elderly roommate has or is developing dementia or Alzheimer’s, you need to seriously consider what you are going to do to keep that person safe. Visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp for more information.
 * 4) * Is the person physically able to take care of themselves? If not, make sure the elderly person always has someone around to look after them. If you work outside the home, then the day may come where you have to hire some in-home help to care for the older person.

2

Keep the house organized and uncluttered. Your house should be organized and uncluttered, especially in a situation where the person has limited mobility, uses a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility assistance, or their eyesight is poor. After all, you want your elderly roommate to be able to move around without tripping or bumping into things.


 * If hoarding is a problem for your elderly housemate, then you may need to discuss this with them and encourage them to find help for their hoarding.

2

Keep the house organized and uncluttered. Your house should be organized and uncluttered, especially in a situation where the person has limited mobility, uses a walker, wheelchair, or other mobility assistance, or their eyesight is poor. After all, you want your elderly roommate to be able to move around without tripping or bumping into things.


 * If hoarding is a problem for your elderly housemate, then you may need to discuss this with them and encourage them to find help for their hoarding.

5

Give the person privacy. When possible, they should have as much privacy and personal space as it is practical to allow. Don’t turn yourself into a caregiver or a nurse without need or invitation and don't violate their personal space. Always communicate first if you are concerned about your elderly roommate.

Diamond Ogbonnaya Onuoha (talk) 23:56, 17 June 2024 (UTC)