Agitation: When Seniors Feel Restless and Upset
Agitation is when someone feels restless, worried, or upset. It’s like having a storm inside that makes you feel uneasy and sometimes act out. In senior living settings, like assisted living or nursing homes, agitation can be a common problem. It can make it hard for seniors to relax and enjoy their day.
What Agitation Looks Like:
Agitation can show up in different ways. Some seniors might:
- Pace or fidget.
- Talk loudly or repeat themselves.
- Get easily upset or angry.
- Have trouble sleeping.
- Resist care or become uncooperative.
Why Agitation Happens:
Many things can cause agitation in seniors. Some common reasons include:
- Medical Issues: Pain, infections, or side effects from medicine.
- Dementia: Changes in the brain can cause confusion and agitation.
- Changes in Environment: Moving to a new place or changes in routine.
- Feeling Lonely or Bored: Not having enough social interaction or activities.
- Feeling Overwhelmed: Too much noise or activity.
How to Help Seniors with Agitation:
Helping seniors with agitation takes patience and understanding. Here are some things that can help:
- Find the Cause: Try to figure out what’s causing the agitation.
- Create a Calm Environment: Reduce noise and clutter.
- Stick to a Routine: Keep daily activities consistent.
- Provide Comfort: Offer reassurance and gentle touch.
- Offer Activities: Engage seniors in activities they enjoy.
- Talk to a Doctor: If agitation is severe or persistent, talk to a doctor.
The Misconception: Agitation is Just “Being Difficult” and “Only Happens When Someone is Angry.”
Agitation is Like “A Language of Unmet Needs” – It’s About Seniors Communicating Distress When Words Fail, Not Just Acting Out, and It’s About Recognizing That Agitation Often Signals Underlying Physical or Emotional Discomfort, Not Just a Bad Mood!
Here’s how we break it down:
- The Common Misunderstanding:
- People often see agitation as just bad behavior or anger.
- The Real Story: A Language of Unmet Needs
- Think of agitation as a way to:
- Communicate distress: Seniors might use agitation to show they are in pain, confused, or scared.
- Signal unmet needs: They might be hungry, thirsty, tired, or need to use the bathroom.
- Show emotional discomfort: They might be feeling lonely, anxious, or overwhelmed.
- It is about the communication of needs, not just bad behavior.
- It is about discomfort, not just anger.
- It is about the body and mind talking, and not just the person.
- Think of agitation as a way to:
- Why This is Powerful:
- It changes the idea from “bad behavior” to “communication.”
- It shows that agitation is often a sign of something else.
- It helps people see the importance of understanding and responding to the underlying needs.
- The “Get it Wrong” Factor:
- People think it’s just being difficult, but it’s often a sign of distress.
- They think it’s only anger, but it can be many different feelings.
- They think it is only about behavior, and not about underlying needs.
Agitation in Senior Living:
In senior living places, staff are trained to help seniors with agitation. They work to create a calm and supportive environment. They also work with doctors to address any medical issues that might be causing agitation.
Resources:
- National Institute on Aging (NIA):
- Provides information on dementia and related behaviors, including agitation.
- Link: https://www.nia.nih.gov/
- Alzheimer’s Association:
- Offers resources and support for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers, including information on managing agitation.
- Link: https://www.alz.org/
- AARP (American Association of Retired Persons):
- Provides information on caregiving and managing challenging behaviors in older adults.
- Link: https://www.aarp.org/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Provides information on healthy aging and mental health.
- Link: https://www.cdc.gov/
- Your Local Area Agency on Aging (AAA):
- They can provide local resources, and information regarding local programs to help with agitation related issues.
- Use the Eldercare Locator to find your local AAA.
- Link: https://eldercare.acl.gov/