Has your parent’s outlook on life or attitude shifted as they have progressed into retirement? Imagine slowly losing your freedom due to aging and physical constraints. What once was your happy home can become an island that you’re stuck on, and in order to leave you have to inconvenience family members. This is an unfortunate reality that many retirees face at some point during their retirement years, and the associated anxiety can have an extremely negative impact when not identified and addressed.
Anxiety can be a very prevalent thing as one adapts to living their life a little differently and not being able to do all the things they used to be able to. It is important to be aware of what the possible symptoms, triggers, and risks might be in order to provide the proper care and know how a licensed home health agency can provide assistance to your loved one.
There are a variety of different anxiety disorders that are out there, but these should not be considered a normal part of the aging process and we should be on the lookout for the symptoms to ensure that anyone suffering from anxiety can receive the proper care. Even if only for a few hours per day, having a home health aide or companion could be of great benefit for individuals with anxiety.
What To Look Out For
Anxiety can manifest as a variety of symptoms, some of which include:
Shakiness * Nightmares
Difficulty breathing * Scary thoughts
Dizziness * Irritability
Lightheadedness * Avoidance of activities, places, people, etc.
Sweating * Changes in weight, appetite, or eating habits
Nausea * Sleep disturbances, including sleeping too much or too little
Digestion Problems * Resistance to leaving home
Chest pain * Withdrawal and isolating behavior
Headaches * Obsessive thoughts
Eyes and vision problems * Compulsive behavior
Muscle tension or soreness * Panic
Fatigue * Abuse of substances
Confusion
Irrational thoughts
Forgetfulness
This is a rather extensive list that includes many of the possible symptoms. However, it is important to realize that mental illness symptoms are not cut and dry and not all of these symptoms may be present.
It is recommended to go to a doctor if your loved one exhibits one or more of these symptoms to obtain a professional opinion. A doctor might suggest a companion caretaker to be around and assist with any complications.
Possible Complications
Untreated anxiety could put those who suffer from it at risk for other physical complications such as:
A weakened immune system
Muscle tension
High blood pressure
Nervous system fatigue
Digestion problems
Ulcers
Cardiovascular problems
Difficulty breathing
Anxiety might also be a trigger for other mental illnesses such as depression, since having to deal with all these overwhelming symptoms and emotions might spiral.
Another complication would be anxiety attacks. Anxiety attacks are essentially times when anxiety comes on very strong and in a very overwhelming way that triggers physical symptoms that resemble more serious health conditions.
This might include hyperventilating, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of not knowing what to do. Anxiety attacks can be very frightening experiences, due to the physical symptoms that make it seem as if something more serious is going on with the individual that is experiencing the attack.
Triggers for Anxiety
As mentioned before, mental illnesses are not cut and dry and it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact triggers for anxiety in individuals. However, being aware of some of the common triggers can be helpful when evaluating the situation your loved one is in and assessing any homecare services they might benefit from.
Some of the more common triggers for anxiety to look out for include:
Financial insecurity
Health problems
Loss of independence
Roll reversal
End-of-life planning
Grief and loss
Immobility
Chronic pain
Changes in sensory perception
Isolation
All these factors can be extremely hard to adjust too due to how different they might be from the life circumstances one was accustomed to before.
How A Home Health Caregiver Could Be Of Assistance
When you perceive that an elderly loved one might be suffering from anxiety or after obtaining a medical diagnosis, there are a variety of different options to take next. We all would love to take care of our own, but it’s not always realistic with our own careers, family, and life obligations. A little outside assistance can go a long way and is worth considering.
A Home Health Aide can be extremely helpful for a variety of different reasons as they can be there to provide company, observe any possible mental or emotional changes, and provide comfort and/or due activities with them to try and reduce anxiety levels.
In-home caregivers can also provide moral support and be there to assist in times of anxiety attacks to make the individual suffering from them feel less alone. They can also call for further assistance and alert family if necessary.
At Unified Pledge we offer a free consultation to assess the situation and discuss which type of care would be the most appropriate.
Hiring professionals from Unified Pledge comes with the following advantages:
● Level II FBI background checks of all staff
● Driving history checks
● Companions, health aides, LPNs are our direct employees and not independent contractors
● Constant communication to patients, family, and care team
● Registered Nurse supervision is ongoing with every care plan
Contact us today for a free consultation by Supervisory Nurse at 561-910-8770.