Psychological support for the elderly during combat operations

 

Older people are in the genetic fear of war all their lives, and here this fear was realized. It’s horrible!

Every time they heard painful memories of military actions and stories about the courage of the people from their parents. Just imagine how they feel. This is the worst fear that came true during the period of life: when you can’t change anything anymore.
So, what advice can be offered to stabilize and at least minimally support people who are now in second place after children.

1. Use phrases of support. Namely: “Everything will pass”, “Continuation should be different”, “We just have to wait.”
2. Minimize the impact of negative news.
3. Form a supportive treatment to reduce the destructive influence of information.
4. Focus on good memories when they overcame difficult life circumstances.
5. Trying to give them a task to make them feel useful: pray, knit, bake bread, etc.
6. Do not start conversations with negative news, but focus on household chores: what they ate, what they did, what they will do.
7. Prepare special tasks at the household level to keep things busy for the whole day: clean somewhere, wash something, cook something.
8. Keep in mind minimal good news, our psyche uses hope as energy for the future.

What not to do!

1. Complain to older people and cry, they will no longer help you, and you are their children, and they will feel guilty.
2. Escalate the situation: “Oh, what will happen, what will happen?” There will be what should have happened, and it will be impossible to change everything.
3. Ask for advice. They had no experience, so all advice will be invalid, on the contrary, it is better to share with them the experience that you have already received from others.
4. To frighten that there will be famine, that the death of all will come, etc., this is a complete fantasy. Everyone will have their own destiny in this war.

They say that when war falls to the lot, it only strengthens the soul of the people for four generations.
Everything will be Ukraine, because we are worth it!

©️Victoria Nazarevich 2022