It’s normal to feel tired occasionally as seniors get older. However, differentiating between normal fatigue and a more significant problem can be challenging. While seniors may write off their weariness as a natural aspect of aging, companion care at home may see it as something else. This blog will discuss how to determine whether a senior’s weariness is due to something other than simple fatigue and what actions may be taken to treat any possible underlying problems.
Duration and Frequency
Although occasional tiredness is normal, if it persists for weeks or even months, it may indicate a medical condition. Similarly, it should raise some red flags if seniors feel tired all the time, even after getting enough sleep.
Effect on Daily Activities
Consider how fatigue affects a senior’s ability to carry out routine tasks. If tiredness severely impairs their ability to do daily tasks like cleaning, cooking, or interacting with others, there may be a more serious problem. The good news is that companion care at home can assist with the daily activities seniors are too tired to manage and monitor their fatigue to determine what it might mean.
Modifications to Sleep Routines
Interrupted or rearranged sleep patterns may exacerbate feelings of fatigue. Insomnia, night terrors, and extreme daytime sleepiness are all common among seniors and may indicate underlying health issues.
Physical Symptoms
Excessive tiredness combined with other physical symptoms like weakness, vertigo, dyspnea, or unexplained weight loss may be a sign of an underlying medical illness such as chronic fatigue syndrome, anemia, heart disease, or thyroid issues.
Mental and Emotional Health
Prolonged tiredness may have a negative impact on one’s mental and emotional state. Seniors may be irritable, have mood swings, have trouble focusing, or feel despondent. These signs may point to anxiety or depression, which frequently accompany physical health problems in older people.
Medication Adverse Effects
Companion care should talk with seniors about their medications to assess if fatigue is a common adverse effect of prescription medications. Additionally, when fatigue first appears, companion care at home can take note of any recent changes in medicine or dosage.
Underlying Health Disorders
Anemia, diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), arthritis, and sleep apnea are just a few of the frequent health disorders that can lead to weariness in seniors. It’s critical to take these possibilities into account and encourage seniors to speak with a healthcare provider for an appropriate assessment and management.
Nutritional Deficiencies
A senior’s diet may be deficient in important nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, or folate, which can lead to weariness. Exhaustion can be made worse by malnutrition or dehydration, which is why it needs to be treated right away.
Social Isolation
Feelings of exhaustion and sluggishness might be attributed to loneliness and social isolation. The possibility of mental and physical decline in seniors who don’t have meaningful activities or social contacts emphasizes the importance of maintaining social engagement and support networks.
Even though seniors often experience weariness, chronic or incapacitating tiredness should not be disregarded. Companion care at home can contribute to the betterment of seniors’ quality of life and overall health by identifying the indicators that their weariness goes beyond simple fatigue and by acting early to address underlying health issues. Promoting candid communication and obtaining expert advice when necessary are critical to maintaining older individuals’ health and vibrancy.
Sources: Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in Vacaville, CA please contact the caring staff at Health is Wealth Home Care Agency, LLC. (925) 446-4003
Health is Wealth Home Health Agency is a top provider of home health services in Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, Sonoma, Napa, San Francisco, and Marin Counties, including the towns of Concord, Sacramento, Vacaville, Davis, Napa, Fairfield, Oakland, Martinez, Vallejo, and Walnut Creek.
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