Senior citizen undergoes a series of behavior change. The sudden change often leads to the worst condition adding aggressive behavior. Aggression can manifest in several manners such as verbal abuse, property damage, and physical harm. These kinds of behavior are known as ‘responsive behavior’. These kinds of alterations are identified in people suffering from dementia.
When caring for someone having a similar behavior pattern, one needs to carefully monitor the sudden change and implement methods that can soothe the sudden behavior changes in the aged care residents. Similarly, research says, aged people living in aged care centers intake one serving of dairy per day, which is far less than the recommended calcium intake. The same scenario is with the protein intake.
Calcium and protein deficiency can have a serious impact on the health of elderly people. Dr Sandra Luliano, the lead researcher from the University of Melbourne urged several aged care centres and professionals to feed rich protein and calcium intakes. She said;
“Dairy foods are a good source of protein and can be easily consumed by the elderly, even for those on texture modified foods. Adding dairy foods to meals, drinks or snacks is an easy way of incorporating them into the diet.”
So, through this blog, we shall discuss one by one the changing mood and needed nutrition. But before that let’s figure out the causes of aggression in old age.
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What causes aggressive behavior in senior citizens?
Many reasons exist for behavioral changes. For some the changes occur due to changes inside a brain, triggering the external environment. Let’s take a closer look at the events;
- Health reasons: A slight change in health can agitate the patient. For instance, fatigue, poor sleep patterns, hallucinations, anxiety, and reactions to medicines.
- Changes in the environment: When aged care people are migrated to a new place, they get anxious, and confused making them take violent steps.
- Anxiety and fear: The brain creates several challenges, due to which the world becomes more frightening. A set of anxiety occurs, due to the ageing process. Communicating with other people becomes difficult as memory fades.
How to immediately cope with aggressive behavior in the elderly?
- Reduce the amount of stress.
- Try to keep the patient in the same homely surrounding.
- Frame and consistently follow the same routine.
- Never provoke the patient and be alert.
- Involve them in routine exercise and activities.
- Remain calm and avoid exciting the patient.
- Try distraction techniques such as heading to the park or going for a walk.
Eating right and staying fit is an important aspects. Eating healthy food, and regular physical activities help older people live an active and fuller life. Proper diet and healthy life go hand in hand, especially for adults surfacing in the age of 65 years. Below are the simple dietary guidelines to take care of the senior citizen living with you.
- Balancing the food intake with exercise- an active attitude seeks a proper portion of healthy food. If the member is less active then keep the meal size small including lots of vegetables, fruit and salad.
- Inclusive of carbohydrate food at each meal including fiber options.
- Consume a nutrition-packed meal; serving five fruits & vegetables each day.
- Offer low-fat dairy foods (yoghurt, milk or cheese). Dairy food with Vitamin D and calcium is even better.
- Consumption of protein-rich food helps to build new cells. Salmon, trout, fish, and tuna are packed with Omega-3, while beans, eggs and nuts boost the protein in the diet.
- Using less salt and sugar in the food, as too much salt can incline blood pressure and a high amount of sugar intake can cause Diabetes. The amount of salt can be reduced in the following manner;
- Including pepper, lemon, herbs and spices to flavor food instead of salt.
- Choosing fresh foods such as fish, vegetables, soups, and sauce.
- Saying no to canned or processed food.
- Strictly avoid packets, tinned soups, instant noodles, stock cubes, soy sauce and sea salt.
- Preventing salted biscuits, chips and nuts.
- Keeping the member hydrated. Dehydration causes tiredness, constipation and dizziness.
- Limiting the intake of ‘empty-calorie’ food such as biscuits, cakes, sweets confectionery and so on.
- Consuming fiber rich food lowers the risk of constipation. A high-fiber diet declines the risk of chronic diseases, cancers, and obesity. The good fiber meal contains;
- 100 % wholegrain and wholemeal bread.
- Cereals such as porridge, shredded wheat, bran flakes, and porridge.
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Potatoes with their jacket.
- Pulses such as beans, lentils and peas.
Combining an active lifestyle with a good amount of food can slow down the process of ageing. For the senior members, diet plays a key role. A good amount of food on a timely basis somewhat lowers the aggressive mood.
Wise-Choice in Home Care is a Sydney-based aged care centre. We have trainers who have in-depth knowledge about the nutrients, meal plans and tactics to handle the senior members. So, live a worry-free life, while you concentrate on your personal lifestyle, we shall emphasize taking care of your aged members. To know more about the ndis service provider in Sydney and Fairfield, contact us!
