If your senior loved one has fought for our country overseas or grew up in a traumatic environment, they could be suffering from PTSD or post-traumatic stress that you are not aware of until you start caring for them. Being a family caregiver is not always easy, and different seniors will need different types of care. Not everything you will want to help them with will be comfortable for them. You may need to consider hiring professional veterans care at home providers to help out your loved one, especially if they are suffering from PTSD.
Here are some tips to help you or veterans care at home better care for your loved one who is struggling with PTSD.
Understanding What Post-Traumatic Stress Is
In simple terms, this is a mental disorder that can happen to people who witness or experience traumatic events. Often, after a few months, a person will get better with the right help and support system. But sometimes that is not always the case. As a person gets older and their memory becomes worse, they can have flashbacks and triggers and may not remember they are safe where they are. Different events can impact people differently. Even if you don’t understand what someone is going through, it is so crucial you focus on them, ensure they know they are safe, and support them when necessary. This can be hard to do as an adult child, so it can be a good step to hire veterans care at home.
Understand Their Triggers
If you have never cared for your elderly loved one before, you may not know that they are battling PTSD until it’s too late. However, as you care for them, something that will help you is identifying their triggers. There may be certain sounds, smells, or phrases that can trigger a senior. If they know what they are, ask them. Sometimes a senior won’t know, though, and that’s when things can become challenging. You will have to observe as you care for your elderly loved one and make notes about what the potential trigger could be.
Earn Their Trust
Here is the thing. You have been their child, and they may love you, but they may not necessarily trust you with all of their mental health information. This can hinder the care you provide for them. The best thing you and veterans care at home can do is earn their trust. The more you can support and love them through any episodes, the more likely they are to open up to you, which means everyone will be happier while they age in place. This is not a process that can be rushed, especially when PTSD is involved. Be patient, be understanding, and keep telling them how much you love them.
Work On Communication
One of the best ways to care for your elderly loved one is always to communicate. You can tell them plans for the day, allow them to share what they want to do, share feelings, and just communicate important things. This will help you guys become closer, and it will help them feel like they can trust you when they are being heard and seen. Communication is important for everyone who is involved in the caregiving of seniors.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Veterans Care at Home Services in Milan TN please contact the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (731) 300-2300
Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Jackson, Humboldt, Medina, Milan, Trenton, Brownsville, Madison County, and surrounding areas.
Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.
Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!
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