While many family caregivers may be on the lookout for evidence of depression in their aging relatives, seniors are more likely to suffer from anxiety.
Anxiety disorder is quite prevalent in elderly adults but since many family caregivers don’t know the symptoms of the condition, they don’t recognize that their aging loved one needs professional help. Without treatment, anxiety can cause a lot of mental health problems and greatly impact a senior’s quality of life.
Senior Care in Mississauga: Senior Anxiety Signs
Symptoms of Anxiety in Seniors
Anxiety is described as extensive fear or worry that interferes with a person’s daily activities. When it lasts for longer than a few weeks, anxiety may be considered chronic and can cause the aging adult great distress. Symptoms of anxiety include headaches, tension, insomnia, excessive worry, rapid heartbeat, and chest pain. In extreme cases, seniors can experience a panic attack as a result of anxious feelings. They will often talk about worries or concerns to family caregivers and elderly care providers and may even demonstrate mood swings and irritability.
It can be a challenge for family caregivers to recognize the symptoms of anxiety in their elderly loved one because many of the symptoms are not immediately obvious. It’s important for family caregivers, elderly care providers and friends to compare notes about worrisome behavior they notice in the elderly adult. Aging adults should see a doctor first to ensure there are no medical conditions that are triggering symptoms that resemble those of anxiety. The doctor can help determine an anxiety diagnosis and help arrange a treatment program.
Treating Aging Adults for Anxiety
The doctor will prescribe a treatment plan for the aging adult to follow, but they will definitely need support and help from family caregivers and senior care providers. The first step is dealing with a mental health expert after the doctor discovers that there are no physical ailments to trigger anxiety. Therapists will use Cognitive Behavior Therapy to try to change how the aging adult responds to that outside stimulus that normally causes anxiety. With a therapist, seniors can learn new coping mechanisms to help them deal with what lies ahead in life.
Family caregivers can help seniors do better with anxiety by reducing their stress levels as much as possible. Many hire family caregivers to oversee the day-to-day duties of the aging adult. This could include laundry, meals, housekeeping, pet care and more. With reduced stress levels from great involvement by people like elderly care providers, aging adults can begin to regain their mental health and overcome anxiety once and for all.
It’s never easy to watch your aging loved one struggle with a mental health burden like anxiety. The good news is that it is quite treatable and with the support of elderly care providers and family caregivers, the aging adults can focus on a brighter future instead of one filled with worry.
About Susan Di Michele
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