What it is: Feeling anxious means a person feels scared or worried about something. This is normal, and usually goes away.
Anxiety is when these feelings don’t go away.
Why it matters: Many older people experience anxiety. Anxiety can be more common when people have a serious illness or at the end of life.
In an older person anxiety can be difficult to see because it is often associated with loneliness, depression and/or dementia.
When a person experiences anxiety and depression together, their symptoms and outcomes are more severe.
What I need to know: Anxiety can create physical symptoms, and changed behaviours and thoughts. These responses affect a person’s health and quality of life.
Do
Look out for and report to nursing/supervisory staff, if a person:
- becomes unable to relax
- becomes bad tempered
- has trouble sleeping or concentrating
- feels very tired or very awake
- is short of breath.
Do
Gently ask the person ‘Is there anything else troubling you?’ or ‘Is there anything you would like to talk about?’ It can help a person to talk about things that worry them.
Do
Treat the person with respect. Help them to maintain their sense of dignity, purpose, and spiritual well-being.