One disorder that older individuals may suffer from during the summer is summer-pattern seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This is a disorder that is associated with depression and affects how a person thinks, feels, and handles their daily tasks and activities. This disorder can affect the older population because they suffer more from vitamin D deficiency and are likely to be home more, without as much socialization. While this disorder is more common in the winter, it can also happen during the summer as well.
Summer-Pattern Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
There are specific symptoms to look for when it comes to summer-pattern seasonal affective disorder in the older population, and watching for these can help you to see if you need to get help for your older loved one. Here are some common symptoms of summer-pattern seasonal affective disorder.
Trouble Sleeping (Insomnia)
If you notice that your older loved one is having a hard time sleeping at night, this may be because of summer-pattern seasonal affective disorder. Trouble sleeping with your loved one is defined as insomnia and indicates that they have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. If your older loved one wasn't having issues with sleep in the past, this may very well be a symptom.
Poor Appetite
Another important symptom to look for is a poor appetite. Summer-pattern SAD will cause your older loved on to become depressed, which may cause them to have little or no interest in eating food. You may begin to notice that they are losing weight and have lower energy levels than normal. You may want to discuss with them why they are not eating and what the root cause may be, so you know whether or not this is a symptom of SAD.
Restlessness & Agitation
When it comes to summer-pattern SAD, something to watch for is restlessness and agitation in your older loved one in Warren. They may act more annoyed than usual when it comes to daily things, and they may also feel the need to move around more often. If you are noticing these actions happening daily, rather than on occasion, then this is cause for concern.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a common symptom that is often characterized by nervousness, increased heart rate, breathing rapidly, sweating, trembling, weakness, tiredness, trouble concentrating, panic attacks, and more. While anxiety can be caused by many things, if you see it in conjunction with some of the other symptoms, then you may want to seek help for your senior loved one.
Violent Behavior
One last symptom to watch for in your older loved one is episodes of violent behavior. This behavior includes explosive episodes where they become impulsive, aggressive, and violent. This may include both verbal and physical aggression, and these episodes often happen repeatedly. If your older loved one generally doesn't behave this way, then you know that something is wrong
If you need help caring for your senior loved one who has been affected by the summer-pattern seasonal affective disorder, then hiring a Senior Helper in Erie is an excellent option for you. They will be able to provide all the duty-care that your loved one needs, such as companionship and a variety of personal care needs. To learn more about Senior Helpers, visit us today at Senior Helpers Erie.