Stress and Your Senior’s Health

Stress may be a part of life, but when it starts to affect other areas of your senior’s health, it can mean that it’s time to take some action to reduce your elderly loved one’s stress levels.

Short-term versus long-term stress

There’s no such thing as a stress-free life, but there are different levels of stress, and those different levels can affect your loved one’s health. Short-term stress is considered a type of stress that usually goes away after an event has passed or a solution is quickly found. Examples of short-term stress can be: going to the dentist for dental work, discovering the car has a flat tire, or misplacing a wallet. All of these invoke stress that usually subsides once the stressor has ended.

Long-term stress is stress that doesn’t have an easy solution and not only affects the specific situation, but also carries over into other areas of life.  This type of stress can be related to a long-term health issue, family problems, mental health issues, or financial difficulties.

Health Problems Related to Stress

While everyone deals with stress differently, some common health issues can be caused by living with too much stress and not finding resources to relieve it.

Because stress leads to increased levels of inflammation, it can also create other health issues that senior citizens are more susceptible to.

• It can increase the risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, and dementia.
• It can cause physical pain such as aching muscles, tenderness due to inflammation, or enflamed joints.
• It can lead to digestive problems such as ulcers, irritable bowel, heartburn, and diarrhea.
• It can increase a person’s inability to function well cognitively. Your senior may struggle with concentration, focus, and problem-solving.
• It can interrupt healthy sleep patterns, leading to too much sleep or not being able to sleep at night, and having insomnia.
• It can make your senior more likely to participate in unhealthy coping habits such as drinking too much or overeating.

Stress-related Symptoms

Many seniors don’t like to admit that they feel stressed about something or that the stress has begun to affect their health. They live with the mantra “fake it till you make it” and “smile no matter what.” Because of that, simply asking your senior if they are okay may not get you a truthful answer. You’ll need to look for symptoms or behaviors that indicate they are overly stressed.

• Feeling exhausted all the time
• Becoming more and more withdrawn
• Having stomach or digestive issues
• Not wanting to participate in their favorite activities
• Recurring headaches
• Imbibing in bad habits like too much smoking, drinking, or overeating

Finding Stress Solutions

Once you find the source of stress, it’ll be easier to help your loved one find a solution. For many seniors who feel stressed about trying to live independently, a senior home care agency can step in and help reduce the stress of managing a home by themselves. Senior home care providers can help with routine cleaning, making meals, or providing transportation if those things are causing stress in your senior. A senior home care professional can also provide the companionship some seniors need by being a listening ear or playing games with your senior. Knowing someone will visit and connect with them can reduce stress levels in many seniors.

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Sunnyvale, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.