Growing and aging is a part of life, and many of us have been at stages where we found caring for our loved ones calmly was difficult to do at the same time. Howsoever, tough as it might seem, we’re always anchored by our love and regard for the person in question, and are always looking for ways that can help with the caregiving options.

It’s understandable that keeping calm when faced with the challenge of caring for a senior loved one who might be going through a tough time is difficult, but it isn’t impossible.

It may take additional effort on your part, but you’ll get done with it in the end. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of tips and guidelines:

Plan in Advance

Whether it’s a doctor’s appointment or your visit to an assisted living community near you, it’s best always to plan ahead so that when the time finally comes, you will have lesser stress to deal with. Your parents, having been already told about this appointment, will have plenty of time to plan ahead.

Breathe

Whenever faced with a stressful situation and when you think you’re edging close to an emotional reaction, remember to breathe. Take deep breaths, and focus on rhythmic inhalation and exhalation. This will keep you distracted from whatever is stressing you out and help you stay more focused.

Exercise

Let’s say you’ve had an argument or an altercation with a senior loved one. You can’t, obviously, react to them angrily. What do you do to let steam off? Release endorphins. You can do this best through exercise. We’re not saying you should start doing crunches immediately after an argument with your parents, but at least go out, take a walk, breathe in some fresh air—and you’ll feel the difference.

Don’t Dwell on the Negative

If you keep thinking about the “ifs” and “buts” you’ll never get out of the rut. You’ll be stuck in a restrictive, negative rut that’s no good for you. Most importantly, it won’t help you calm down. On the other hand, what will help you is focusing on the positives. If your parent, in their distress and anger, said something bad to you, you can undo it by focusing on the good things they’ve said and done.

Looking for a Memory Care Option Near You in California?

AvantGarde Senior Living and Memory Care is a Tarzana-based caregiving community that extends customized memory care solutions for its senior members. Contact us today to find out all about the amenities we offer.