Fatigue is a frequent concern among older adults, often manifesting as persistent tiredness, low energy, or a sense of weariness that can disrupt daily life. Addressing these feelings is essential to maintaining an active and fulfilling lifestyle. Caregivers play a crucial role in identifying the underlying causes of excessive fatigue in seniors, enabling them to restore vitality and improve overall well-being. Here are nine potential causes of fatigue to consider.
What Is Fatigue?
Fatigue is an intense and overwhelming sense of tiredness that can leave a senior feeling drained and unable to carry out daily activities. Those experiencing fatigue may describe feeling worn out, weak, sluggish, or weighed down. This condition can be temporary or long-lasting, depending on its underlying cause.
Fatigue can be either mental or physical. Mental fatigue affects cognitive abilities, making it difficult to concentrate, remember details, or think clearly. On the other hand, physical fatigue is marked by bodily exhaustion, muscle weakness, and difficulty completing physical tasks. Understanding the nature of fatigue is essential to addressing its effects and improving quality of life.
What Are Symptoms of Fatigue?
An older person who feels excessive fatigue displays clear symptoms. The senior may complain of constant tiredness or sleepiness. Other symptoms of fatigue include dizziness, headache, and muscle weakness. Caregivers may notice the aging individual’s slower reflexes and impaired decision-making.
Fatigue can cause the senior to lose a healthy appetite. Due to the reduced immune system function that accompanies fatigue, the aging person may be more susceptible to illnesses. Brain fog (feeling mentally unclear or confused) is another symptom of excessive fatigue in the elderly.
Signs of fatigue include napping during the day despite sleeping the recommended 7 to 9 hours at night. Or fatigued seniors may sleep too many hours overnight. They experience mood swings, depression, or a lack of motivation as a result of fatigue. Some even lash out in anger.
What Causes Excessive Fatigue in Seniors?
1. Emotional Stress
Fatigue is a typical response to emotional stress. Seniors who are grieving the death of a loved one may be burdened with the painful sense of loss. Struggling with family conflict also triggers emotional stress and can lead to an older adult feeling tiredness or weariness.
2. Lack of Quality Sleep
Seniors who stay up late are likely to feel excessively tired the next morning. It’s important to go to bed and wake up at the same time to ensure a quality night’s sleep and feel energized the next day. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep each night.
3. Physical Activity
Active older adults may feel fatigued after a session of rigorous physical activity, like tennis, lifting weights, or laborious yardwork. While regular exercise boosts energy levels, overdoing it can cause physical stress in the elderly which contributes to excessive fatigue.
4. Boredom
Retirement gives the senior extra free time. Without activities to fill their days, older adults can begin to feel boredom and the accompanying fatigue. It’s important for retirees to participate in meaningful social activities, like volunteering, to prevent boredom and feeling overly tired.
5. Dehydration
A classic cause of fatigue is dehydration, per the Institute on Aging. Fatigue caused by dehydration is often accompanied by mood swings and angry outbursts. Since seniors naturally have a reduced thirst response, it’s important that caregivers provide them with beverages throughout the day.
6. Caffeine
Drinking too many caffeinated beverages can keep seniors up at night. Coffees, teas, and sodas are notorious for the abundance of caffeine they contain. Caregivers should limit the amount of caffeine the senior consumes during the day and eliminate it altogether in the evening.
7. Thyroid
While fatigue is a normal response to the aforementioned causes, chronic fatigue may be due to underlying and untreated medical conditions. Thyroid problems, for instance, can cause a senior to feel ongoing fatigue, along with other symptoms. A geriatric assessment can provide treatment and relief.
8. Long-Term Pain
Physical pain is difficult and tiring to tolerate. Seniors who endure chronic pain may feel the side effects, like ongoing fatigue. Pain management techniques, support groups, or therapy can help the elderly bear their chronic pain and find relief for excessive fatigue.
9. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may affect some seniors. Also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, the condition lasts six months or longer and is not caused by other diseases or conditions. CFS fails to improve with rest, leaving seniors tired and struggling to perform the activities of daily living.
When fatigue is caused by a lack of sleep or dehydration, it can be improved with adequate rest and hydration. Seniors who feel emotional stress should ask others for help. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and participating in enjoyable activities can also ward off excessive fatigue.
However, when the fatigue is persistent, lasting several weeks, the elderly should visit a healthcare provider to diagnose and treat any underlying medical conditions. The physician may recommend medications or other treatments based on the results of the senior’s lab tests and physical exam.
Fatigue is important to resolve, since seniors who are excessively tired neglect to stay physically active. A sedentary lifestyle leads to muscle loss and worsens existing fatigue. When your aging loved one deals with fatigue, the licensed caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care can help.
Elderly Care from Assisting Hands
Our reputable elderly care agency prioritizes the overall health of seniors by providing a comprehensive range of non-medical care services in the comfort of home. Experienced caregivers prepare healthy meals and serve beverages to keep seniors hydrated throughout the day which helps fight fatigue.
If the senior is prescribed medications, we give timely medication reminders. Caregivers schedule exercise into the older adult’s day to help them stay physically fit. We also provide transportation to the doctor’s office, so seniors can discuss their concerns about excessive fatigue or other health issues.
Older adults in Frisco, Plano, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, TX, and the surrounding areas are holistically supported by the compassionate caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care. We assess the aging person’s daily care needs and design a tailored care plan to fulfill those needs. You can call us at (214) 609-1340) to schedule an in-home consultation.
