How to Handle Your Elderly Loved One Not Recognizing You

Unfortunately, when someone develops dementia, at some point, they are going to stop recognizing their loved ones. This may not happen until later in the disease. However, no matter when it happens, it can be tough on the family caregivers and other loved ones. With this being said, it is important to learn about some of the ways that you can handle things when your elderly loved one doesn’t recognize you.

Acknowledging Your Loss

It may not seem like it to some people, but having your elderly loved one not recognize you, can feel like you have lost them. If this is how you are feeling, it is important that you take the time you need to acknowledge your loss. If you need time away for a bit to acknowledge and process this loss, you can hire elderly care providers to help out for a while. These providers can stick around for as long as you need them too. Take the time you need to grieve.

Talking and Reminding

If your elderly loved one is starting to forget your name, it can be tough. However, if you keep talking to your elderly loved one it could help to jog their memory about who you are. You can even try reminding your elderly loved one of who you are. If this doesn’t work, it may come to a point where you just have to accept they don’t know your name. This doesn’t mean that you can’t keep having a relationship with your elderly loved one.

Don’t Blame Your Elderly Loved One

It is important that you don’t blame your elderly loved one. It is not their fault that their disease is taking over their mind and their body. If you can remember to blame their disease, it will be a bit easier to accept what is happening and continue being there for your elderly loved one. Now, this does not mean that you can’t reach out for additional help. It is alright to get support from other family members and elderly care providers.

Conclusion

If your elderly loved one has dementia, there will come a time when they don’t remember you. This can be one of the toughest moments of your life. However, there are some tips that can help you to better handle this loss. It doesn’t mean that you will feel alright about it. However, if you do use these tips, they can help you to better understand what is going on, how you should respond, and what you can do about it. Don’t forget that you don’t have to do this on your own. Elderly care providers can be around to help you and your elderly loved one. They can support you and your loved one in many ways.

Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/assessing-cognitive-impairment-older-patients

If you or an aging loved one is considering elderly care in Plainsboro, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.

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Care Street Home Care Staff

Care Street Home Health Care LLC is a division of Ocean Healthcare, a network of New Jersey-based healthcare centers and services founded in 1973 by Melvin and Debbie Feigenbaum. Melvin and Debbie both came from warm, close-knit backgrounds that emphasize the centrality of family. The values of respect, responsibility, and dignity run deep in the Feigenbaum family; they share a strong sensitivity to the importance of caring for others, particularly the elderly and disabled.

The Care Street mission is straightforward and compelling: to provide a comprehensive range of the highest quality home health services in a professional and efficient manner that will enhance our clients' quality of life and empower families to keep their loved one at home.

Care Street has earned a reputation of excellence among hundreds of families, and is recommended by medical professionals and hospital discharge planners throughout the State.

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