Effective Ways to Ease Anxiety in Seniors

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In times like the ongoing pandemic, anxiety and uncertainty are common. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders even in normal times.
Seniors who are particularly vulnerable to illness might be more worried about their life and daily activities.

So, how can you help your seniors with their anxiety? The tips mentioned in this article will help!

Reassuring Routines

Anxiety is a common problem for seniors with dementia. For example, forgetting something can cause panic attacks to the elderly and make them believe they have hurt others.

A steady routine is a great way to curb this issue. You can set clear expectations from your seniors and let them know that you look up to them. This will give a sense of usefulness to them, and their anxiety will likely drop.

Social Support

Seniors often feel lonely and isolated due to their reduced mobility and diminished social circle. And they may have their reasons. For example, a senior may be recently widowed or have moved from an area where they were close to family.

Or, perhaps their ability to travel to the community has been affected by physical or mental illness. Anxiety can be increased by isolation and may lead to adverse consequences in some cases.

So, it is important to ensure that your loved senior with anxiety has a support network. While you can be a source for companionship, comfort, and socialization, they must have access to this support even when you aren’t there.

There are many ways to do this. Here are a few things you can do:

• Take them to a nearby park daily. Let them make new friends.
• Make sure they aren’t allergic to pets and get them their favorite animal. Works like a charm.
• Teach them how to talk with their friends on zoom call and give them a phone so that they can play games or call their friends (check with a doctor first about giving them the phone.)

Ease Nighttime Stress

Gallup’s 2005 poll revealed that four out of ten Americans over 50 years of age worry so much that they cannot fall asleep at night. One in four suffer from anxiety and have difficulty communicating the same to their caregivers.

Don’t be surprised if seniors experience difficulty sleeping because of medication interactions or physical ailments that make it difficult to lie down or recline. But, it can be surprising as to how common it is for seniors with mental stress to have trouble sleeping.

Moreover, seniors worried or upset about their symptoms or hear strange sounds outside at night are less likely to call family or friends as they do not want to trouble them. They don’t want anyone to be disturbed unless they know that they need to be addressed. The truth is, anxiety requires and merits attention, just like a physical condition or suspicious activity in your neighborhood.

Assigning a caregiver can also be beneficial to your loved senior if they need overnight supervision. Moreover, if the elderly is in distress or feel lonely at night, a caregiver can provide the necessary comfort and companionship. Also, the caregiver’s presence can give you peace of mind, knowing that someone is monitoring your loved senior at all times.

Manage their Spine Issues

Many seniors often complain about body pain. We won’t blame them; such pain is common in old age. Spine pain is one of the commonly reported pain in seniors. This troubles them to sit or walk properly. If your loved one also has spine pain issues, Spokane spine center can be helpful.

We are sure the above tips will help you take care of your elderly with anxiety and pain issues.

SEE ALSO: Signs of Depression in Children and Teens