What is uncharacteristic or inappropriate behavior in old people?

Answer 1

"Uncharacteristic" or "inappropriate" behavior definitions have their roots in social norms, or in other words, how we expect people to act. However, people must be cautious in labeling any "different" behavior as being "inappropriate" since many age groups or persons can have personal habits, quirks, or preferences that differ from our own or even clash with society's usual expectations. For example, people who lived through World War II became used to "rationing" the resources they used in daily life. They may collect and hoard food in a nursing home, for example, in case of an "emergency", rationing, or scarcity. Although food hoarding is "inappropriate" in society's thinking, in this population it is simply based on years of deprivation and fear. Or, as another example, a bedridden 75-year old woman requires home health care. The workers report that the patient "keeps her house totally dark and never opens window curtains", as being "inappropriate" for what most people expect. However, the home is dark and curtains closed simply because the woman is unable to get up herself to turn on lights and open curtains. Therefore, based on her situation, these behaviors are not inappropriate.

An uncharacteristic behavior in an older person is any change from their routines. For example, Mrs. S. has always been frugal. She still uses the same dish towels she bought 50-years ago, and wears the same 5 house dresses year after year. However, her son dropped by and saw dozens of shipping boxes in the kitchen, containing everything from a back yard grill, make-up, frilly baby dresses, art supplies, etc. New fancy dresses and other clothing is thrown about the living room. When he asks his mom about all the 'stuff', she talks fast and is incoherent. She's appears unkept, ungroomed, and "wild" according to her son. He manages to get her to a doctor, who diagnoses "mania" which occurred from medication interactions and dehydration.

An inappropriate behavior is different than uncharacteristic. For example, society has certain "norms". We expect people to relieve themselves in a bathroom, to be clothed in public, and we expect that an adult would not "talk crazy" or walk up and bite us. We don't expect someone to be inappropriate sexually, for example, we don't expect a 89-year old man to drop his pants in the hallway and try to seduce a visitor to a nursing home. (However, an 89-yr old can be sexual with another adult in privacy.) We expect that adults control their emotions; for example, we don't expect someone to yell incoherent sentences or lash out to strike someone. We don't expect an adult to spit on us, or to throw body waste at us.

Most often when older people live at home, family members notice inappropriate behavior before it becomes severe. It may be a small thing that sets off alarm bells. Family says, "this is not how my mom / dad acts normally. If inappropriate behaviors continue, families often choose to place the relative for safety and for treatment. Medication management along with around-the-clock care can help reduce the inappropriateness and help the person return to normal behavior. However, some patients cannot recover so they remain institutionalized for safety, supervision, and to increase the public's comfort.