A recent report by the NCOA states that 10% to 20% of older adults experience anxiety. Unfortunately, anxiety in seniors often goes unnoticed and undiagnosed.
Anxiety in older adults doesn't always announce itself with loud, obvious signs. This makes it an overlooked problem, often dismissed as a side effect of aging.
Persistent anxiety can have a profound impact on senior mental health. It's a major threat to anyone's emotional wellness in aging.
Understanding anxiety in seniors is the first step toward managing it effectively. Communities like Ramsey Woods in Cudahy, WI, help manage anxiety in older adults.
This blog sheds light on anxiety, its causes, symptoms, and coping strategies. Keep reading to learn more.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to perceived life threats or stressors. It's often characterized by feelings of fear, unease, or worry, which aren't intense at first.
Anxiety disorders start when these feelings become too intense to the extent of interfering with daily life. Common forms of anxiety that affect seniors include the following:
GAD is the most common form of anxiety disorder among seniors. Pay attention to your elderly loved one if they show signs of excessive worry. Older adults with GAD often expect the worst, even when there's no real reason to worry.
Seniors with panic disorder experience frequent, unexpected episodes of intense anxiety. Panic attacks can happen unexpectedly or be triggered by a particular situation. They can lead to serious distress and can disrupt your elderly loved one's daily life.
Phobias involve extreme, irrational fear of certain situations, things, or activities. Older adults with this type of anxiety may develop a fear of things like:
Phobias lead to avoidance. Your elderly loved one might avoid social gatherings because they worry about being judged or criticized.
PTSD is common in seniors who have witnessed or experienced trauma. It comes with intense nightmares and flashbacks. Elderly veterans mostly experience PTSD because of their past exposure to violence and military combat.
OCD involves constant unwanted thoughts and repeated actions to ease anxiety. Seniors with OCD feel that by adopting certain mental routines, they can gain a sense of control. These thoughts are usually intrusive and disturbing.
If your elderly loved one has these forms of anxiety, a reputable senior living community like Ramsey Woods in Cudahy, WI, can help. Our structured and predictable environment helps seniors with anxiety gain control over fear and intrusive thoughts.
Different forms of anxiety in older adults have different triggers. Understanding these triggers can help you offer better support to your elderly loved one.
Major life events and transitions feel more unsettling to older adults. They come with intense feelings of loss, uncertainty, and adjustment.
These changes can threaten your senior's sense of security and control, leading to anxiety. They include:
Old age comes with a weakened body's immune system. Many older adults are vulnerable to life-threatening health conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.
Fear of declining health leads to anxiety disorders in seniors. Chronic pain and discomfort caused by health conditions also lead to anxiety.
Other related factors associated with anxiety in seniors include:
Old age makes the brain neurons less effective. They produce fewer neurotransmitters, altering the processing and transmission of information.
A continued decline in the brain's neurons increases the risk of brain shrinkage. This can lead to permanent cognitive decline or dementia. The fear of developing dementia or Alzheimer's may cause anxiety in your elderly loved one.
Isolation and loneliness are social factors that subject older adults to anxiety. But Ramsey Woods has good news. We offer engaging activities and events like educational classes, mahjongg games, and outings to keep seniors socialized and active.
These activities help seniors overcome loneliness, leading to a better mood. A good mood means happiness and a slower rate of cognitive decline.
Understanding the symptoms of anxiety in seniors will help you take the right interventions early. You'll help your elderly loved one avoid more complications.
Symptoms of anxiety manifest in various forms - physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms.
Some physical symptoms of anxiety in older adults include:
Seniors with anxiety disorders may show:
Anxiety in your elderly loved one may lead to:
The right coping strategies play significant roles in stress management for seniors. They must combine medical interventions, lifestyle changes, and therapeutic approaches.
Staying active is a lifestyle change that helps older adults manage anxiety. Physical exercises like group walks and yoga make the body release happy hormones (endorphins). The exercises also disrupt seniors from focusing on stressors and other causes of anxiety.
Meditation and mindfulness for older adults can help your loved one focus on their emotional well-being. They help relax body muscles and ease the management of intrusive thoughts.
Other strategies for coping with anxiety include:
Anxiety in older adults is more common than you may realize. But with the right support and strategies, you can effectively manage it.
Ramsey Woods, located at 3210 E. Ramsey Avenue, Cudahy, WI 53110, is the perfect senior living community for seniors struggling with anxiety. Personalized interactions with our compassionate and dedicated staff will lift your loved one's spirits. We offer exceptional services and amenities like color therapy, movie nights, community outings, and wellness programs.
Let us help improve your senior's quality of life. Call us today!