This presentation equips the carer with strategies on helping older people cope with the physical, cognitive and social changes that occur as they age. This is part of our aged care courses - if you're interested in becoming a carer, or know someone who is, then call us on 1800 22 52 83 for a no-obligation chat.

1. How to Help Older People Cope with
Change

2. Issues Older People
and Carers Face
The main issues facing older people are:
• Physical changes
• Cognitive changes
• Social changes
• Family changes
• Changes in living arrangements
• Changes to independence
• Loss and grief
• Attitudes in society
• Family carers

3. Physical Changes
People's bodies change as they get older:
• Their muscles may not be as strong
• They may not be able to bend and stretch as well as before
• They may lose their balance
• Their eyes and ears might not work as well
• Their skin becomes thinner and may break and tear easily
• They may gain or lose weight
• Their general fitness level may decrease

4. Physical Changes
As a carer you role is to:
• Assist older people to look after glasses or contact lenses
• Watch for changes in how older people move
• Tell someone I the older person’s care network or supervisor if there is a
problem
• Know when to recognise when things become too difficult for older
people and make a recommendation that they may need to move into
residential care

5. Physical Changes
As a carer you role is to (continued):
• Encourage exercise
• Watch for hazards in home or other environments that may make older
people trip or fall
• Help older people move from one place to another safely
• Make sure equipment used by older people work properly

6. Cognitive Changes
Support workers can help older people manage cognitive changes by helping
or encouraging them to:
• Write reminder notes
• Put appointments an a calendar
• Talk about important details
• Write down names and phone numbers

7. Cognitive Changes
Support workers can help older people manage cognitive changes by helping
or encouraging them to:
• Wear name tags
• Introduce themselves clearly
• Participate in activities

8. Social Changes
Support workers can help older people manage these changes by:
• Encouraging phone calls to friends and family
• Suggesting social groups and activities
• Help write letters and emails
• Help memory by talking about photos (whilst respecting privacy)

9. Loss and Grief
• Grief is when people feel sad when they lose someone or something
important to them.
• Older people may feel grief when they lose skills they used to have.

10. RECOGNISING AND
REPORTING SIGNS OF GRIEF
Support workers
need to be able to
recognise the signs
of grief and work out
ways to support
those experiencing
grief

11. STAGES
OF GRIEF
STAGE WHAT IT MEANS
Denial • Denial is the first stage of grief.
• Person may state "I feel fine."; "This can't be
happening, not to me.“
• In case of a dying person, he/she may deny
the fact that he/she is going to die.
• This step is more profound in people who
are dying in young age with diseases like
cancer.
Anger • Second stage of grief is anger.
• The person is angry about the loss. They try
to find reasons to explain the loss.
• They may ask questions like "Why me? It's
not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?";
"Who is to blame?"etc.

12. Bargaining Bargaining is the third stage of grief. The person may try to make deals
with themselves or others. They may feel that if they do or promise
something, then what they have lost may come back. You can hear them
saying statements like "Just let me live to see my children graduate."; "I'll
do anything for a few more years."; "I will give my life savings if..."
Depression Depression is the fourth stage of grief. The person may feel that they don't
care for anything any more. Signs of depression can include sleeping a lot,
not being able to sleep, not getting out of bed, not talking to others, not
eating well or not going out/ socializing. These are depicted in statements
like "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm going to die... What's the
point?"; "I miss my loved one, why go on?" etc.
Acceptance Acceptance is the last stage of grief. The person begins to accept the loss
they have felt and adapt to it.You may hear them say "It's going to be okay.";
"I can't fight it, I may as well prepare for it. Our aim should be to help people
achieve this last stage by providing support and comfort.
STAGES
OF GRIEF

13. Changes in Living
Arrangements & Grief
Support workers can help older people to manage such changes by:
• Talking to older people about how they feel
• Listening when they want to talk
• Showing them where things are kept
• Helping them find their way around

14. IHNA offers qualifications in
aged care, disability and
nursing.
Go to http://ihna.edu.au to kick
start your health career.
Thank you for
viewing this
presentation!