Old age problems..... give your comments?

Question

My father , Now 91 years of age, has the following probems :

1. does all sorts of wrong things (even immoral like lying) to attract attention of other family members.

2. Has become very irritable even though he is dependent on others for his day to day activities like bathing, hyegine etc.
3. Has become one track mind regarding his eating habits - e.g. if he starts eating chinese , he will want it daily... gets addicted to soft driks etc etc

IS someone having such prblems. are these problems age related . AND we have to live with them?

Answer 1

>>1. does all sorts of wrong things (even immoral like lying) to attract attention of other family members.<<
This may be his way of crying out for attention if he feels he's not getting enough for his needs. Any attention, even negative, is still attention. Is there a way to schedule rotating visitors so he has regular company? That may alleviate this.


>>2. Has become very irritable even though he is dependent on others for his day to day activities like bathing, hyegine etc.<<
Actually it is BECAUSE he's dependent that he's irritable. Think about it, if tomorrow you could no longer wipe your own butt how embarassing & frustrating it would be to have to have/let someone do it for you. After decades of independence, it's very hard to give that up and realize you are where you are in life.

>>3. Has become one track mind regarding his eating habits - e.g. if he starts eating chinese , he will want it daily... gets addicted to soft driks etc etc<<
Don't know about this but if you can get him to eat & drink, let him do it. I mean what's the worst that's going to happen? Work a bargain into it "if you have this nutritious lunch, we'll have XYZ for dinner" to be sure he's still getting good stuff but don't fight too hard on it either, let him have some pleasure/sense of winning. It will make other things easier.

>>IS someone having such prblems.<<
I took care of my Nana for a year and to get her to drink ANY liquid was such a battle.

>> are these problems age related <<
Yup.

>>AND we have to live with them?<<
Yup. Can't hurt at all to mention it to his doctor just in case but alot of it you do have to just cope with.

Enjoy every minute you can; I can't describe the pain/frustration that comes with not having them around anymore. I'd fight my Nana 24/7 to drink if it meant I could have her back.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Ohhh Hun your problems are really not that hard;

Number1. If your father is lying to get attention, give him attention before he lies.. He is asking for attention just like a child would do.

2. His irritability stems from years and I mean many years of independance. Now that has changed and he get irritated .. Thats normal ,, Just be patient with him...

3.if he wants to eat a certain food for long periods of time and as long as it doen't hurt him, by all means let him. Chinese food is actually good for him..As for the soft drinks , taper him down to so many a day and thats it.. he may get mad but let him know you are only thinking of his welfare..

Older people will come to a point in their lives where they will revert back to childhood .. They become childlike again and that includes all the possible bad habits they had then can surface now. New habits can come about due to a feeling of not being loved enough. Show him you love him .. spend as much time as you can with him..
Unfortunately, some of the behavior may not change but if you try and show him lots of love , it just may work.. My grandpa is 96 and he does act this way alot but he talks to me and complains to the others. Why, I think its because I will listen to him and show him I care...So he opens up.. I can feel for you ... This generation needs our love and patience the most.. Besides, enjoy him now, because tomorrow may come and he might be gone ...

Answer 3

I believe it is age related. We are going through the same thing with my mother right now. She will only eat cheese, and drink milk. She will actually fight with her great granddaughter who is 4 if she See's her with a piece of cheese she wants it. She looks at us sometimes like she's not sure who we are and greets her great granddaughter as if she's meeting her for the first time. She's doing other strange things like taking her cloths off and when you ask her why she just says I was getting dressed when its the middle of the day and she's been dressed all morning. The doctor says its dementia it is worst some day and others she seems like her old self. Hope this helps some. Talk to his doctor to see if there are suggestion that may help.

Answer 4

It appears your father may have dementia or even onset of Alzheimers this is at times very age related people become senile rude, strive for attention is normal and they will do anything to get it. The eating habits could also be something as easy as bringing back fond memories and he wants to relive them everyday. Old age is a very strange and mysterious
time in ones life be happy you have had him in your life for so long my wife just lost her dad he was only 58 so be thankful
and just laughat his behavior he is old and grumpy thats all. Remember if your mom has gone already he is also very lonely.

Answer 5

He is 91 years and this is kinda normal . They hate bathing because it confuses them . I bet if he could he would sleep all day and not do much else .Eating is hard sometimes because he is probably not hungry .Whatever he wants to eat should be OK just so he eats something .He is confused and irritable because hes confused .Just try to stimulate him mentally as much as possible and hopefully he will live till hes 92 ! This is all normal aging stuff .Believe it or not they become like children again so you may have to treat him like a child . If you do that you may be able to handle him better . Good luck to you !

Answer 6

It may be the early signs of dementia. My great grandmother experienced it before she died. Their mood and personality begins to change, sometimes drastically. She had been the kindest, sweetest person you would've ever met. But she became sometimes stubborn and a bit irritable. Then again, it could be just old age. Or a mix of both. Consult a doctor.

Answer 7

i think of the priority could be the way you're cleansing up after her. The urine consists of acids and so which you are able to use an alkaline cleanser. i'm unsure bleach is the splendid component to sparkling up with. attempt using a laundry powder answer, and sparkling the floor the place injuries take place with that. i think of you will locate that when you gain this, she would be able to no longer be waiting to sniff the place she has been, and she or he could be extra vulnerable to pass the place she gets all of the affection and compliment. i understand we predict of of bleach as a therapy all, yet actual, a dogs nostril is so comfortable that they could nonetheless scent the place they have "been" in the process the bleach. i'm hoping that helps, RS

Answer 8

............and now it's your turn to help care for him. You'll sit back and smile one of these days. It's the end...make the best of it for both of you.........

Answer 9

....you know what they say,at the end we'll become kids again.