PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is far more common than most people think. By the time your aging adult is a senior citizen, there is likely more than one incident alone that contributes to PTSD. As her caregiver, you need to know how to help her.
Listen as Often as Possible
A lot of helping someone through something as complex as PTSD involves just being a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen. Make it a habit to listen to your senior as she shares with you what she’s feeling and experiencing. The best thing you can do is to avoid judgment and simply be supportive.
Be Available or Make Sure Others Are Available
People with PTSD often isolate themselves because there are so many feelings that they’re experiencing. Isolation is never a good idea, especially for an aging adult. If you’re not able to be there as often as you’d like to be, then it might be a good idea to consider hiring elder care providers. They can offer companionship and a friendly presence for your senior.
Try to Avoid Triggers
A common occurrence with PTSD is that there are often specific triggers or prompts that can send the person with PTSD right back to the original situation that created the emotional response. Triggers can take a variety of forms, including smells, sights, sounds, and just about anything else. Learning your senior’s triggers can help you to avoid placing her back in that traumatic moment.
Promote a Safe Environment
Knowing that she’s safe can be the best way to help your senior with PTSD to recover from a traumatic replay. This is also where having a routine and a schedule can help, too. Talk to your elderly family member about what helps her to feel safer so that you can add that to the environment.
Get Professional Help
It’s possible that your elderly family member may need more help to get through these episodes of relived trauma. Her doctor may be able to help in some ways, but it is also a good idea to find a counselor or therapist for your senior to work with on this. Therapy or even a support group can be incredibly helpful.
If your elderly family member is reluctant to talk to you about her PTSD, you can still offer her all of these tools. The safer that she feels, the more likely your senior will be able to open up to the assistance that you’re offering her.
For more information about hiring Home Care in Coronado, CA, call the friendly caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare who can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, at 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.
Today we are the oldest and most experienced private duty agency in San Diego County.She saw a need for quality private duty home health care and she worked diligently to build an agency that filled that need.I am proud to say, her vision is carried on today with our dedicated staff.
I believe our tenure in the community speaks well for us.We have had the opportunity to be of service to countless interesting individuals, including local and worldwide celebrities.It is the people we care for that makes this a fascinating industry.Whether high profile or a more ordinary citizen, we are proud that thousands have entrusted us with their care or the care of their loved ones.Our Mission is to provide high quality, very secure and the most compassionate home health care.We believe that patients heal faster and are happiest when they can stay in their homes.”
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