How to deal with an ageing population.

Most of us will have to deal with an aging relative, or client, or we will have to deal with our own ageing. This can be quite stressful. so what can you do to cope? Let's talk about expectations.

It will take an older person ( 80+ age group) much longer to do seemingly 'simple' tasks, like eating, getting dressed and getting ready to go out the door. So add an extra hour or do if you are taking them to an appointment. Have some task that you can do while you are waiting for them.   reading or something. It forces you to slow down, which can be a good thing. 

If you are ageing yourself, you may find yourself getting frustrated with how long it takes you to get stuff done, or in some cases, not done. Use lists, electronic reminders, Apps like Alexa, post-its, whatever it takes to stay organized. You may have been able to Multitask for many years, and now it seems like you cannot manage to get even 2 things done. Practice Monotasking, get 1 task done, them move to the next, and the next. And rethink what you can get done, you cannot accomplish tasks at the same pace as a twenty-something-year-old.

If you, or an ageing relative are dealing with health problems, failing eyesight, and mobility problems, what can you do? Trying to negotiate the Canadian Health care system is a job in itself. This is very time-consuming, and frustrating. If your relative, or you, has to apply for assistance from the Government, be prepared to spend a lot of time filling out forms.

You may have to deal with Stubbornness - extreme stubborness verging on pigheadness. The older person may say..."Everybody is telling lies about me." " I don't really have trouble with...."

Denial and lack of acceptance about what is happening. 

We're all a little bit mad here...it seems like a strange  thing, but an insanity where money is concerned may be present in an older person.  Everybody is out to take my money. The older person may not be able to shop on their own, so they may have lost touch with what an item costs. 

Sleep...or lack thereof. Almost every older person will tell you they have trouble sleeping. They will deny that they clock watch, however , they will tell you that they were awake from 3.33 am . Yet most sleep professionals will say that most of us actually sleep more than we think we do. 

Of course, not all people that are ageing are unhappy. Some are happy and grateful to be alive. Some have adjusted well to their ageing. We will all be old one day, and who knows, what will we be doing that will drive our kids completely bonkers?