While retirement years are meant to be enjoyable, the stresses and inconveniences that sometimes come with aging can lead to frustration that may result in conflict. Seniors are no different than younger generations in that sometimes conflict is inevitable.
Conflict can arise when two people disagree, or one person is deeply unhappy with their situation.
Conflict and bad behavior in assisted living facilities are relatively rare. Most residents have support in adjusting, and staff is trained in handling difficult situations before they become a problem.
Types of Behavior that Can Lead to Conflict
Senior care facilities know that residents will occasionally experience conflict. While many residents settle into their community and live happy and relaxing lives, that is not true for everyone.
Caring Places Management makes every effort to address bad behavior in assisted living through conflict management.
Disrespecting Staff
Staff at senior living communities are highly trained professionals that have dedicated their lives to helping seniors live up to their fullest potential.
The staff is trained to provide personalized service to every resident so that everyone feels respected, taken care of, and comfortable.
Staff members are also trained in handling difficult situations where there is a disagreement or disruptive situation involving a resident. They will make every effort to find a solution to the resident’s problems and solve the conflict.
Staff must not be subjected to frequent disrespect such as barking orders, name-calling, or hostile behavior.
Conflict with Other Residents
Fostering a positive community for all care facility members requires residents to live peacefully and respectfully among one another. Some residents may engage in bullying behavior or repeated conflict with other residents.
Staff will make every effort to resolve conflict and understand the root cause.
Disruptive Residents
When seniors transition to a care facility, they expect to be able to live in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Disruptive residents can interrupt the peaceful community and significantly impact the lives of other residents.
Examples of disruptive behavior may include:
- Purposeful spilling or mess-making.
- Yelling and shouting at inappropriate times.
- Making excessive noise during quiet hours.
Why Seniors Act Out
Bad behavior in assisted living facilities may occur for several reasons. Sometimes seniors are frustrated by their situation or unhappy. At other times, they may be experiencing cognitive issues that impact their behavior.
Physical Pain
As people get older, they often experience new aches and pains, arthritis, and even chronic conditions that cause severe pain. It can be extremely difficult to carry out day-to-day activities, let alone maintain a positive attitude while dealing with persistent pain.
According to the National Institutes of Health, chronic pain in the elderly is associated with a number of adverse outcomes and situations, including falls, depression, and sleep disturbances. Frustration from these symptoms is a common reason for outbursts and disruptive behavior.
Cognitive Decline
Seniors experience cognitive decline at different rates and in different ways, but almost all seniors will experience some form of cognitive decline.
In some situations, seniors may not even be aware of their bad behavior and the consequences of their actions. Seniors who have dementia are particularly vulnerable to acting out and engaging in destructive behaviors.
In other instances, seniors may become confused or forget how to do simple tasks, which can cause frustration and negative behavior.
Difficulty Adjusting
Transitioning into the later years of life — particularly into a senior care facility — can be a big adjustment for some seniors. Change can be difficult, especially if it occurs suddenly or without proper transitioning support.
Some seniors may have difficulty finding comfort in their new living situation. Some may even be responding to other disruptive residents or staff with whom they haven’t formed a bond. The AARP recommends making a long-term care plan to help ease the stress associated with change.
Resident Care at Caring Places Management
At Caring Places Management, our dedicated staff is highly skilled in handling difficult situations and getting to the root cause of the issue. Our staff works alongside residents in a supportive manner and aims to address their concerns as soon as they are identified.
We get to know the residents and understand their situation to identify personalized and effective solutions. To learn more about our approach to care, call us today.
