Is your senior loved one dealing with stress? Have you ever considered how much stress your senior loved one may be dealing with? Stress is a normal reaction to the everyday challenges of modern life, but if it isn’t managed in a healthy way, it could lead to larger medical conditions, not to mention significantly decrease your loved one’s quality of life.  

Your loved one may not tell you that he or she is feeling stressed, but be sure that the stress can be overwhelming. There can be many contributing factors: loss of a loved one, moving, loss of independence and isolation are just a few. 

Signs of stress

Stress can manifest in a variety of ways. Being able to identify the signs of stress in your senior loved one and create solutions is key to managing and reducing stress in your loved one. Here are five common signs of what to look for: 

• Eating habits have changed. Your loved one may overeat or experience a decrease in appetite due to stress. 

• Mood swings. If your loved one seems increasingly irritable, sad or depressed, then he or she may be stressed. 

• Trouble remembering things. Increased forgetfulness can be a sign of stress in your senior loved one. 

• Decreased concentration. If your loved one appears to have trouble concentrating, than stress could be the culprit. 

• Exercising poor judgement. Excessive spending is one example of the poor judgment that might be a sign of stress in your loved one. 

• Trouble sleeping. Poor sleep is not uncommon in seniors, but it is definitely not a normal part of aging. Typically trouble falling or staying asleep is a symptom of a larger problem. It can be a significant sign that your loved one is dealing with stress. 

• Isolation. Sometimes overwhelming stress can cause seniors to detach from friends and family, isolating themselves. 

Techniques to Reduce Stress 

There are a variety of ways that your loved one can reduce their stress, even for those seniors who have physical limitations. They are: 

• Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet 
• getting a good night’s sleep 
• Joining a non-physical group activity, such as a bridge club or volunteering 

Your senior loved one does not have to deal with stress alone. You can help your love one combat stress by spending time with them, talking and creating lifestyle changes to help him or her minimize stress levels. Doing so will greatly increase your loved one’s quality of life seniors. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Care in Greenville, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Source 

http://www.comfortkeepers.com/home/info-center/senior-health-wellbeing/five-signs-of-senior-stress#sthash.6M9jIm79.dpuf 

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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