First, our dopamine levels decline as we age, making elderly people susceptible to dopamine-deficient depression. It's also well known that declining estrogen levels during menopause, along with resulting physical changes can cause women to experience irritability, sadness and anxiety.
A Senior's Complaints Might Stem from Boredom
Once their responsibilities decrease or they retire, they may feel they have “earned” the right to say exactly what they think and feel. And much of what they feel could be negative if they are bored or no longer have a strong sense of purpose.
Seniors throw temper tantrums for a whole host of reasons. Often, it's a result of the personality changes brought on by Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Certain prescription medications can have negative side effects or interact with one another, causing mood swings and irritability.
In most elderly individuals, behaviors are a symptom of distress. The aging process in and of itself sometimes brings about anger, as seniors vent frustration about getting old, having chronic pain, losing friends, having memory issues, being incontinent – all of the undignified things that can happen to us as we age.
According to the United States Social Security Administration, anyone age 65 or older is elderly.
“When you're older, you're more likely to have physiological irritability,” Stosny said. “That's especially true in the morning when your blood sugar is low.” If you notice your anger welling up, he suggests telling yourself, “Hey, that's just physiological.
Abusers are both women and men. In almost 60% of elder abuse and neglect incidents, the perpetrator is a family member. Two thirds of perpetrators are adult children or spouses.
Increased anger with age is a common problem, but you don't have to feel angry all the time. Blue Moon Senior Counseling offers therapy for anger management, stress, anxiety, and other common problems affecting older adults.
Emotional Health Issues
Depression, anxiety, grief, and PTSD are all mental health disorders that can have increased anger as a symptom. Your loved one may need professional therapy to learn how to handle his or her emotions. Some seniors need medication to address severe anger.
FAQs about dementia and anger
Dementia may result in anger because people who're experiencing dementia have lost the ability to consider why other people say or do things and so, take things personally. If a person with dementia feels safe, listened to and respected in your care, anger is much less likely.
People with Alzheimer's disease may become agitated or aggressive as the disease gets worse. Agitation means that a person is restless or worried. He or she doesn't seem to be able to settle down.
Signs and symptoms of elder abuse can include:
Injuries such as bruises, cuts, or broken bones. Malnourishment or weight loss. Poor hygiene. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, or confusion.
Unusual Behavior
Giving away money, transferring assets to people, unusual spending behavior, checks being written to cash or the unexplained disappearance of cash or property are warning signs that something isn't right.
By the time you reach your 50s, your strength, balance and endurance are already beginning to wane — much earlier than previously thought, according to a new study.
Happiness actually may increase with age. It may be unfathomable for some young people to think of their grandparents as being happier than they are, but research shows that Americans actually get happier as they age despite their health conditions and other problems that arise.
Australia's older generation (those aged 65 and over) continues to grow in number and as a share of the population. The ageing of the population creates both pressures and opportunities for Australia's health and welfare sectors.
Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But, older people tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than they did when they were younger.
Usually, personal hygiene (specifically bathing) is one of those things that gets neglected. So how often should an elderly bathe? To avoid any skin conditions or infections, a senior should bathe at least once or twice a week.
What is Elder Abuse? Elder abuse is an intentional act or failure to act that causes or creates a risk of harm to an older adult. An older adult is someone age 60 or older. The abuse occurs at the hands of a caregiver or a person the elder trusts.
The most common type of elder abuse is neglect. Some examples of neglect are not giving them their medicine, protecting them from danger, not providing food or water, and not taking care of their hygiene if they are unable to do so themselves.
Psychological abuse is the second most common form of elder abuse after neglect. It often consists of purposeful verbal or nonverbal infliction of emotional or mental anguish.