Walking into a room and having your loved one treat you like a stranger isn’t fun for any family caregiver, but it can unfortunately happen. This is especially true if your loved one has always had a close relationship with you and other family members.
Your Loved One May Recognize Younger Versions of You
Even if your loved one doesn’t recognize you today, she may recognize younger versions of you. This is because short-term memory is often affected by dementia and other brain disorders. Long-term memory, such as you as a teenager or a child, isn’t affected as much. If you were to show your loved one pictures of yourself at a younger age, she would likely have no difficulty recognizing you.
You Can Still Communicate with Your Loved One
Your loved one doesn’t have to recognize you in order for you to be able to communicate with her. Talk to your loved one about topics that interest her and encourage her to partake in activities that she normally enjoys. You can still spend quality time together, even if she’s not completely caught up about who you are.
Talk to Your Loved One’s Doctor
You can always talk to your loved one’s doctor about what is going on. It’s possible that there may be changes that can be made to your loved one’s medication that help this problem. Or, if your loved one isn’t already on medication, there might be one that her doctor can prescribe.
Get Extra Help so You Can Take Frequent Breaks
It can take a lot out of you to deal with the emotions that this symptom can bring up for you. Taking frequent breaks can help you to deal with your feelings and manage your energy a little better. Consider hiring experienced senior care providers who can help your loved one when you’re away. That way you can focus on what you need to do for yourself instead of worrying about your loved one while you’re gone.
Having your elderly loved one stop recognizing you can be extremely painful. Unfortunately, since there may not be anything that you can do about it, you must learn to cope.
If you or an aging loved one are in need of senior care in Rockville Center, NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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