Anxiety
When to Use Dementia Reality Orientation and When to Let It Go
Dementia reality orientation can help or hurt, depending on how and when it’s used.
Did you ever wake up in the middle of a dream and wonder, just for a second, if what you were dreaming was real? That groggy, surreal confusion can feel unsettling, until your brain catches up and you remember where you are. For someone with dementia, that moment of uncertainty doesn’t always pass. Confusion about time, place, and identity can linger, shaping their entire day.
Struggling to Let Someone Lighten Your Caregiving Load? This Might Be Why.
Learn why it’s so important to allow someone to help lighten your caregiving load, and why you may be feeling so resistant to the idea.
The moment Mom is discharged from the hospital, you exhale, believing the toughest part is finally behind you. But instead of bouncing back, she seems drained, anxious, or even weaker than before. She’s struggling with simple tasks, isn’t sleeping well, and feels overwhelmed.
This wasn’t how you pictured recovery. Instead of a turning point, it feels like she’s slipping backward.
What’s going on?
The Unexpected Challenge of Post-Hospital Recovery
Leaving the hospital doesn’t always mean the body is ready to heal. Many older adults experience post-hospital syndrome—a state of extreme stress and vulnerability that can slow recovery, lead to new health complications, and even increase the risk of readmission.
Stress plays a bigger … Read More »
What Is Senior Social Frailty and Who Is at Risk?
It’s easy for older adults to slip into spending too much time alone, which can lead to senior social frailty.
Not so long ago, we were all taking precautions to protect ourselves and loved ones from the spread of COVID-19. For older adults, who were especially vulnerable, this meant isolating at home and avoiding social interactions. While these measures were necessary for safety, they created a new norm of solitary living for many seniors—one that has persisted long after the height of the pandemic and is causing a condition known as senior social frailty.
Recognizing and Resolving Senior Anxiety
If you suspect senior anxiety in someone you love, help is available.
Does an older adult you care about seem more withdrawn, restless, or forgetful than usual? While these changes may appear to be part of aging, they might actually indicate something deeper: senior anxiety.
Anxiety is more than just occasional worry or stress. In older adults, it can manifest in subtle or unexpected ways, including:
Persistent, obsessive thoughts
Recurrent nightmares that disrupt sleep
Repetitive behaviors, like checking and re-checking that appliances are off
Physical symptoms, such as sweating, dizziness, or a racing heart
Overreactions to otherwise manageable stressors
What Contributes to Anxiety in Aging Adults?
Aging brings unique challenges that may contribute to anxiety, including:
Side effects from medications
Chronic illnesses or reduced mobility
Grieving the loss of a loved one
Concerns about declining independence or financial stability
Unresolved childhood trauma
These factors, combined with changes in … Read More »
