As we get older, it becomes more and more apparent that we’re all held responsible for how we treat members of our family. Most of us know to care for those younger members, but there are rising concerns about how we deal with our seniors, our grandparents, and our aging parents, aunts, and uncles. Here, we’re going to look at one of the largest problems, the fact that not enough people are paying attention to the struggles their elders are going through.
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Shifting relationships
One of the fears that many face, as they grow older, is that they become “irrelevant”. Because they don’t play as active a role in the family, it’s easy for seniors to be sidelined. Every familial relationship is different, of course, and some may be strained. But it may worth turning to our elders for life advice. We might be living in a different world than they were when they were our age, but they could have wisdom that we’re all overlooking. Including them in more conversations and sharing with them can help them feel the trust and love they deserve as part of the family.
How we communicate
The infantilization is another major risk that we have to make sure that we don’t fall into. Whether it’s the fear of mental deterioration or the worsening of faculties such as hearing, many adults tend to speak to senior citizens like they are children, slowly and with small words. This can be humiliating and insulting and studies, as highlighted at Lifehacker.com, have shown that majority of older people still retain all of their communication skills and vocabulary. We may have to adjust to certain issues like hearing loss, but we shouldn’t treat them as if they can’t comprehend us.
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Do we make them vulnerable?
At some point, you may have to seek care for an aging one loved who is no longer able to live independently. However, even if you find full-time care for them, you still need to part of their life and to listen to their concern. There is a growing risk of neglect and abuse from caregivers and in homes, as shown at GBW.law and some of the responsibility falls on us. If an older relative raises a concern about treatment from a care home, it’s your obligation to take it seriously.
Isolation is a killer
More and more science is agreeing that isolation is amongst one of the most pervasive risk factors across all kinds of health issues. From depression and anxiety to a higher risk of dementia and even a shorter life expectancy, isolation has a role to play in it all. At Aplaceformom.com, you can see a frank look at the widespread risk of senior isolation, as well as a few ideas on how you can help avoid it.
If there’s anything to take away from this post, it’s that our elders deserve a place in our family and deserve to have their voices heard. Too many are silenced, isolated, and vulnerable, and if we don’t stand up for them, who will?
Categories: Tips And Advice Stuff
