Dealing with stress is something that we all have to do, but if your elderly family member is overly stressed that can cause bigger health concerns for her. There are ways to recognize when your senior is experiencing too much stress and when you figure that out, you can put solutions in place to help her.
She’s Handling a Lot by Herself
If your elderly family member is still handling a lot of her own tasks by herself, you may not notice just how much she is doing. Those daily responsibilities can start to get heavier very quickly for your senior, especially if her health is changing, too. There are a lot of responsibilities that she is likely better off still handling for herself, but if there is anything that she can delegate that can be a huge help.
She’s Trying to Do Everything Just Right
Sometimes it’s not only what she’s still doing, but how well she’s trying to do it that can be wearing on your elderly family member. If she’s trying to get everything handled to the same standards that she’s always adhered to, she may be pushing herself too hard. For so many tasks, good enough is truly good enough. Stepping back from trying to handle everything perfectly may be the better answer.
She Doesn’t Seem to Be Resting
When does your elderly family member seem to be resting? If she’s constantly on the go, she might not be getting the downtime that her brain and her body truly need. Taking longer breaks may be something that she needs to do, whether that’s something she accepts just yet or not. Having a little more help with the daily tasks that she’s still handling herself can be enough to help her to take that time to rest that she needs.
Her Emotions Seem More Unpredictable
Your senior may not notice that her temper is a little shorter than usual lately or that she seems to be sad more often. But when you spend time with her, you may be noticing that her emotions seem a little more unpredictable than they usually are. If her emotions are close to the surface and she seems moodier than she typically is, odds are that she’s experiencing a little more life stress than she normally does.
Finding a way to help your senior to manage her stress may mean getting her some extra help. Elderly care providers can take over some tasks and responsibilities for her, allowing her to rest and to use her energy more wisely.