My husband is a "glass half empty" 81 yr old, I am a "glass half full" 83 yr old person. His conversations are always, and I mean always negative and irrelevant. It gets so annoying to me. No matter how hard I try to change the subject, he adds something bad. He's living at an assisted living facility now, so usually kindly live. I don't know what else to do to save myself. Any other suggestions?
You can't make someone be something they are not, but you can however change how you react to him, as you are the only person you have control over.
My husband was more of a negative person and I have always been a positive person. You know they say that opposites attract right? We made it work right up to the end. Yes there were times when I had to walk out of the room, as I couldn't take it any more, but I never allowed him to steal my joy.
My husband died last Sept. and I would give anything to listen to him complain one last time.
So to answer your question on what to do with a crabby old man, I would say just keep on loving him, walk away, or stay away when necessary, and do some fun things for yourself, to keep your spirits and your joy in tact. Wishing you joy for your journey.
Has he been seen by a geriatric psychiatrist?