Elderly Care Observances: PTSD Awareness Day

Elderly Care in Chicago IL

​June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a condition in which a person experiences severe emotional responses to a traumatic event for weeks, months, or even years after the event, and struggles to overcome them. While many people automatically think of military personnel when considering those who may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the reality is there are far more people who may deal with this condition. PTSD can exist in anyone who has gone through a traumatic event such as:

​• Abuse
• Assault
• Home invasion
• Act of terrorism
• Natural disaster
• Severe illness
• Severe illness of a loved one
• Loss of a loved one

The impact of PTSD can be extensive and lingering, influencing your parent's health and their quality of life. If you are a family caregiver for someone who is suffering from this condition, it is important that you focus on ways that you can help them to manage it so that they can enjoy a safe, healthy, and comfortable life throughout their later years. In this situation, an elderly care provider can be an incredible source of support and care for your aging parent. This elderly home care services provider can create a customized approach to care designed with your parent's specific needs, including their PTSD, in mind so that they can handle them in the best way possible for them.

Some ways that you can help a parent who is dealing with PTSD include:

​• Educate yourself. It is easy to make assumptions about a condition when you are not familiar with it. Take the time to find out everything that you can about post-traumatic stress disorder, how it impacts the life of a person who is dealing with it, and ways that it might manifest. This way you are able to detect it when your parent is going through a difficult time and can manage it effectively.

​• Be there for them. Reassure your aging loved one that you are there for them. Make yourself available to talk about the traumatic event so that they can work through their emotions when they want to. Let them know that they are safe when they talk to you and that you will not judge them.

• Give them space. While you make yourself open and available to your loved one, it is important that you also be sure to give them the space that they need. They may not always want to talk about the event and pushing them will only worsen their emotional response to the situation. Allow them to process the event in their own time and talk about it when it is right for them.

​• Be prepared for anger. Withdrawal, anger, and even lashing out are common symptoms of PTSD. Prepare yourself for these symptoms. Choose to use "I feel" or "I think" statements rather than statements that may sound accusatory, such as "when you" or "because you". If you feel threatened in any way, know that you can walk away from the situation so that both of you can take some time to feel calmer. 

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/family/helping-family-member.asp

​If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Chicago, IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

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