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Seeing our grandparents change before our eyes can be quite dramatic, especially if your grandparent has a dementing illness such as Alzheimer's. It's common for grandchildren (of all ages) to question why it is happening and even what are the possibilities of themselves getting Alzheimer's. I hope that the following article will guide you through some of the feelings that you may be having.
1. Frustration: You may become frustrated with an older grandparent because you are so used to how they used to act. You may find yourself asking, "Why must I repeat myself 5 times before I get an answer?" or "I told her that important story last week, why doesn't she remember?" 2. Anger: You may be feeling angry that your grandparent is changing, you may just be remembering how they used to be. Now is the time to start fresh. Activities that you once did in the past may have to be altered or changed. 3. Guilt: You may feel guilty if you find yourself not keeping in touch with your grandparent(s) as much as you once did. Ask yourself why. Are you not sure what to say? Are you not sure how to act? 4. Sadness: You may feel upset that your grandparent is changing. Aging is a part of life and shouldn't be seen as something negative. Feeling sad about a loved one who has dementia is quite normal. That is why it is important for your loved one to receive the best possible care. Always keep the following in mind... 1. Treat your grandparent as you have always done. If you change, they may just ask why. Your grandparent is the same person inside. 2. Stick to routine. If your grandparent enjoys a certain activity, continue doing it even if it means you may have to help them a bit. It's a small price to pay to see our loved ones enjoying themselves. And, I don't mean "price to pay" in a negative sense. It means that if we have to alter our schedule a bit because Grandma likes to have tea and biscuits at noon sharp, then we should do all that we can because we love her. Of course, there may be times when this is not possible. If this happens, explain the situation to Grandma and then make plans for later that day. 3. Concentrate on the now. You can talk about when you were little, but don't expect things to be as they were several years ago. Plus, you are probably a different person than you were 10, 15, 20 years ago.
The copyright of the article Loving our Grandparents in Elderly Caregiving is owned by Marci Stocks. Permission to republish Loving our Grandparents in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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