{"id":1311,"date":"2026-08-18T23:27:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/blog\/%e5%bf%83%e7%90%86%e8%ae%8a%e5%8c%96%e5%8f%8a%e6%87%89%e5%b0%8d%e6%96%b9%e6%b3%95\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T23:27:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:27:47","slug":"%e5%bf%83%e7%90%86%e8%ae%8a%e5%8c%96%e5%8f%8a%e6%87%89%e5%b0%8d%e6%96%b9%e6%b3%95","status":"publish","type":"ac_blog","link":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/blog\/%e5%bf%83%e7%90%86%e8%ae%8a%e5%8c%96%e5%8f%8a%e6%87%89%e5%b0%8d%e6%96%b9%e6%b3%95\/","title":{"rendered":"Elderly Care 101: Psychological Changes and How to Cope"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>1. Why Do Psychological Changes Happen?<\/h2>\n<p>As age advances, an elder's psychology also changes noticeably. Unable to move their body as they wish, they become more dependent; or, due to loneliness, they may stop trusting anyone and feel even more isolated. Seniors often show a duality of alternating strength and weakness. To build a trusting relationship with an elder, caregivers must first understand their personality and thoughts, and fully appreciate the psychological changes that come with age \u2014 only then can they get along harmoniously and provide the right amount of care.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Common Psychological Changes<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/05-\u5fc3\u7406\u8b8a\u5316\u53ca\u61c9\u5c0d\u65b9\u6cd5-01.jpg\" alt=\"Common Psychological Changes\" style=\"width:100%;border-radius:10px;margin:8px 0 20px;\"><\/p>\n<p>An elder's psychological changes often show a clear duality: a strong, stubborn side and a weak, dependent side. These two states frequently alternate.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The strong side:<\/strong>Dwelling on the past, more self-centred, stubborn, impatient and quick to anger, resistant to new methods, insistent on their own views, refusing new approaches, always believing they are right, commanding in tone, and prone to interfering in others' affairs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The weak side:<\/strong>Declining confidence, worsening short-term memory, growing anxiety, easy worry, frequent complaining, increased dependence, more passive, afraid of trouble, and shifting responsibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>3. How to Respond to Psychological Changes<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/05-\u5fc3\u7406\u8b8a\u5316\u53ca\u61c9\u5c0d\u65b9\u6cd5-02.jpg\" alt=\"How to Respond to Psychological Changes\" style=\"width:100%;border-radius:10px;margin:8px 0 20px;\"><\/p>\n<p>When dealing with an elder, you will find that the same person clearly shows a 'stubborn, strong side' and an 'indecisive, weak side' at different times. The psychological mechanism behind this: on one hand, elders want to defend their self-worth and appear strong; on the other, they are unsure whether they can hold on, so they reveal weakness.<\/p>\n<p>Different elders show strength in different ways; in severe cases they may even suddenly lose their temper. Rather than treating these as personal character flaws, understand them as natural changes brought by ageing. If caregivers respond with a gentle, considerate attitude, they can actually build a deeper trusting relationship with the elder. In long-term care, caregivers should also watch their own emotions, seek support in time and avoid accumulating stress.<\/p>\n<p>Practical suggestions:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Respect their self-esteem:<\/strong>Even if the elder has limited mobility, encourage them to do what they can by themselves; avoid doing everything for them, which can undermine their confidence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Listen patiently:<\/strong>When elders reminisce or complain, listening patiently matters more than rushing to correct them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Guide gently:<\/strong>When facing stubborn or irritable moods, avoid direct confrontation; guide with a gentle tone and concrete actions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provide a sense of security:<\/strong>For elders who show anxiety and dependence, give more companionship and affirmation to help them rebuild confidence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accept the duality:<\/strong>Understand that the elder's mood swings are normal; don't feel frustrated or angry about them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintain warm connections:<\/strong>Even if family members don't live together, meet often or talk by phone so the elder has emotional support and never feels a 'lack of love'.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encourage socialising and interests:<\/strong>Support the elder in joining community activities and mutual-help groups, and in developing interests like painting, music or crafts to enrich their spiritual life.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"acblog-sticky\"><div class=\"acblog-sticky-label translation-block\">\ud83d\udca1 Key Point<\/div><div class=\"acblog-sticky-body\">True care is not about changing the elder's personality, but accepting them as they are. Remember the eight-character mantra: respect, listen, be gentle, accompany \u2014 help elders keep their dignity and confidence through respect and companionship.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>An elder's psychological changes are a common part of the ageing process. The intertwining of strength and weakness stems from defending self-worth and anxiety over declining abilities. Caregivers need to understand these fluctuations with a calm mindset, replacing blame or coercion with gentle, considerate treatment. Remember: true care is not about changing the elder's personality but accepting them as they are \u2014 helping them keep their dignity and confidence through respect and companionship. Gentle, considerate treatment will always win an elder's trust and cooperation far more than blame or force.<\/p>\n<div class=\"acblog-faq\">\n<h2 class=\"translation-block\">FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"acblog-qmark\">Q1<\/span>If an elder's mood stays low for a long time, when should they see a doctor?<\/h3>\n<p>A1: If insomnia, noticeable appetite changes, loss of interest in usual activities, or repeated talk of 'life being meaningless' lasts more than two weeks, seek help from a family doctor or geriatric clinic to assess whether a psychiatric referral is needed.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"acblog-qmark\">Q2<\/span>How can children abroad care about their parents' emotions from a distance?<\/h3>\n<p>A2: When family members abroad care for parents in Hong Kong, it is often hard to grasp daily conditions in person. AngelCare supports real-time sync and collaboration, allowing remote access to medication management and vital signs. When the domestic helper uploads blood pressure and glucose readings, they are saved and synced, reducing the uncertainty of relying only on verbal reports. If you have questions about medication or conditions between follow-ups, learn about the AngelCare medical group consultation service.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"acblog-qmark\">Q3<\/span>How can caregivers cope after being yelled at by an elder?<\/h3>\n<p>A3: First step away from the situation, take a deep breath or a short break, and avoid arguing on the spot. Talk to trusted family or friends; if needed, call the 'Caregiver Support Hotline' 182 183 for emotional support.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"acblog-qmark\">Q4<\/span>What community mental health resources for seniors exist in Hong Kong?<\/h3>\n<p>A4: Ask your district elderly centre about activities and counselling services; the Hospital Authority's Community Psychiatric Services also provide follow-up for those in need. Seniors can request a referral through general outpatient or geriatric clinics.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"acblog-qmark\">Q5<\/span>Does irritability mean dementia? When should an assessment be done?<\/h3>\n<p>A5: Personality changes, irritability or suspiciousness can be early signs of dementia, but may also relate to insomnia, medication or mood disorders. If family members notice significant behavioural changes, tell the doctor and consider a cognitive assessment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><video controls preload=\"metadata\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/05-\u5fc3\u7406\u8b8a\u5316\u53ca\u61c9\u5c0d\u65b9\u6cd5-cover.jpg\" style=\"max-width:340px;width:100%;display:block;margin:28px auto;border-radius:12px;\"><source src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/psych-video-h264.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\">Your browser does not support video playback.<\/video><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seniors often show alternating strong and weak psychological changes \u2014 this article explains common signs and seven coping suggestions (respect, listen, be gentle, accompany) to help caregivers build trust.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1303,"template":"","ac_blog_cat":[12],"class_list":["post-1311","ac_blog","type-ac_blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","ac_blog_cat-12"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ac_blog\/1311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ac_blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ac_blog"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ac_blog\/1311\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ac_blog_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/angelcare.dnow.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ac_blog_cat?post=1311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}