Elder abuse refers to exploitation, harm and/or neglect to vulnerable care recipients. But what if the abuse is the other way around? Many seniors find themselves emitting negativity so insidious that it can literally destroy the family.
Reasons Why a Senior May Be Overly Negative
Personality
Some people are chronic complainers. As they age, they may find more reasons to complain due to increased discomfort or pain. It is highly unlikely you will be able to change their personality especially if they exhibit narcissistic tendencies.
Medications
Many prescription medications list personality changes as a side effect. Some of those include psychiatric drugs like anti-depressants as well anti-seizure medications, statins, blood pressure medicine and anti-inflammatories. Drug interactions can also be problematic. A medical doctor should review the list of medications to look for potential issues that could result in moodiness or agitation.
Chronic Pain
A recent study in the medical journal, Pain Research and Management, found that chronic pain patients reported higher negative mood states compared to control subjects. Negative moods can worsen pain perception and lead to a negative spiral that interrupts the effectiveness of pain management strategies. Arthritic joint pain is a common source of discomfort in seniors.
Boredom
Feeling bored and lacking a sense of purpose can lead to increased complaining and an overall chronic negative mood. These negative emotions may be compounded by reduced energy levels and limited mobility.
Dementia
Brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia often bring about significant personality changes. Many caregivers are aware of the symptom of forgetfulness but fail to attribute increased negativity to the cognitive decline.
What To Do Next
The first step in dealing with an overly negative senior is to have them evaluated by a medical doctor and psychologist. Determining whether a medical or mental health reason is behind the increased negativity can lead to medical intervention that may abate or resolve the issues.
If that does not work and the senior is making the living environment increasingly toxic, it may be time to consider hiring a professional caregiver or transitioning the senior to an assisted living facility. These professionals are skilled at handling these situations. It may be more expensive to go this route but end up better for everyone in the long run. Aging life care professionals, also referred to as geriatric care managers can offer assistance. At Stouffer Legal, our elder law attorneys often work in conjunction with these non-attorney geriatric specialists to help family members develop the best possible long-term care plan for their loved ones. It may be time to minimize exposure to negativity and help secure the proper care your loved one needs. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at (443) 470-3599 or emailing us at office@stoufferlegal.com
