A study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry discovered that over twenty-seven percent of older adults experience anxiety symptoms that may not amount to a disorder, but which, nevertheless, would still significantly impact their functioning. There are many types of anxiety disorders, including but not limited to, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Some of them may differ in terms of symptoms, but just the same, all of them can contribute to decreased physical and mental health among seniors receiving in-home care services.
Hence, as a nurse-owned and nurse-operated organization that seeks to deliver superior home care in Overland Park, Kansas, we are giving out a handful of tips on how you can ease your elderly loved ones’ anxiety:
- Check for any possible health causes
Symptoms of anxiety can sometimes result from health issues. For example, your family members provided with skilled nursing care in Kansas may attribute breathlessness to anxiety when in truth, and in fact, it was brought about by a respiratory illness. So, schedule an appointment with your relatives’ doctors. They may be able to modify your loved ones’ medication doses or prescribe more appropriate drugs.
- Encourage them to have a restful sleep
Fatigue can actually make anxiety (or an existing mental health condition) worse. So, Destiny Home Care proposes making a sleep hygiene plan to help your family members relax for a full eight hours.
- Consider professional counseling
Your aging relatives may need professional counseling, especially if their anxiety stems from a painful personal experience (e.g., a recent accident, loss of a loved one). Talking to a professional counselor offers them an outlet to vent out. Moreover, an experienced counselor may be able to give you additional solutions to manage their symptoms.
Leave a Reply