Anxiety Disorders and the Elderly: What to Know

Anxiety is a common emotion for people of all ages. In fact, even in normal times, 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. However, extended periods of anxiety or frequent intense bouts are unusual and are of concern.

Anxiety disorders are common among seniors. The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation many adults in the United States are impacted by these disorders.

Below are some common anxiety disorders.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): People with GAD are constantly worrying and often there is not anything specific that triggers them. Concerns vary from worrying about health, family dynamics and more. Older adults with GAD end up struggling with sleep hygiene, find it difficult to relax even after activities with friends; which are known to induce sleep. Finally, they can experience issues with focus.
• Social Phobia: This is a phobia of interacting with other people. Those diagnosed with Social Phobia are overly anxious and have low self esteem. They can be hyper fixated on themselves and others may perceive them during regular social interactions. Social Phobia has been linked to aging and can be brought on as a result of issues related to early onset dementia or illness.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD results from traumatic events that occur. There is no timeline as to when the disorder can manifest. In older adults with or without early onset dementia, it been known to trigger when they have an experience similar to the initial trauma. The emotional response to the initial trauma is buried until this trigger is release. It is very common for PTSD to occur when an older adult deals with the Loss of a life partner or even friends from their adult day care.

At Sunlight Care we find it very common for caregivers to express concern. They will reach out for care assistance and note anxious behavior in their senior with early onset dementia. It can be confusing and frustrating for the caregivers. It can also be hard to decipher and understand. When it comes to understanding and helping older adults with these symptoms of anxiety, you want to pay close attention. Take the time to further explore their environment, behavior, activities and note what has changed. Take note if any of their symptoms are in line with the common anxiety disorders listed above. Talk to your Sunlight Care home health aid or anyone who has interaction with your loved one to gain perspective on their observations. If your loved one has a prolonged bout of anxious behaviors, be sure to contact your primary care doctor. They can help you manage the symptoms.

Caring for your loved one can be stressful enough without being constantly exposed to the concerning behavior of anxiety. You do not have to manage care of your loved one with onset dementia alone. Reach out to Sunlight Care in the Moorestown, Haddonfield, Voorhees and all surrounding areas to alleviate the stress and get your loved one the care they need. We will help you be able to focus on enjoying precious time with your loved one. Let Sunlight Care handle the personal care. Our services include hourly home health aides, live-in home health aides, private duty nurses, and more. We provide completely custom and affordable solutions for your family.