As caregivers, we face many challenges when caring for the physical and mental well-being of older adults. While we all love and take pride in helping older adults live their best lives, dealing with an older person’s mood swings can sometimes be our biggest challenge. If someone in your care is experiencing mood swings, there are a few things we need to make clear right at the start.
The first thing to know is that mood swings in older adults are very common in older adults. According to a report published by the National Library Of Medicine, “mood disorders are frequent in old age, and their prevalence is increasing with population aging.”
After all, every older person has at least twice our life experience. They have twice the number of happy memories that they wished would last a lifetime, and they have experienced twice as much loss and heartache. That stuff takes its toll on a person. As they continue to get older, they will experience many physical and mental changes that they weren’t expecting.
So, in this blog, we wanted to explore how you, as a caregiver, can better understand what causes mood swings in older adults, how to deal with them, and where to get additional help if needed.
Understanding Mood Swings in Seniors
To start off with, let’s take a look at what mood swings are exactly, just so we’re all on the same page. To put it simply, mood swings are exactly what they sound like. They’re a rapid shift in a person’s mood. One moment, a person is happy and laughing, and then they are either angry or very sad in no time.
Of course, it’s not uncommon for us to have a “bad day” or start off in a great mood, only to have something bad happen that upsets us. We’re human, after all; we feel. However, the very rapid shift caused by mood swings can be problematic.
Rapid shifts in an older person’s mood can be the result of a wide variety of physical and mental health issues. These could include physical issues such as chronic pain, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and a feeling of general boredom, just to name a few. As a result, it’s not as easy as pointing to one specific cause of mood swings in the hopes of managing them.
A massive change in our environment can also greatly impact our mental well-being. An example is if an older person has lived in the same house for decades or more and then suddenly finds themselves living in an assisted living facility or the home of a loved one, it can be jarring, to say the least. Especially if they feel the loss of independence they enjoyed at one time. Not to mention, loneliness. Human beings are social animals, and solitary confinement is a form of punishment. If an older person suddenly feels alone and isolated, that too can wreak havoc on their mental and emotional health. Put yourself in their situation; how would you feel under those circumstances? Well, remember, they feel it just as deeply.
Yet that’s not all; factors that can affect an older adult’s mood include chronic illnesses. Suppose an older person is suffering from Diabetes, heart disease, or epilepsy, to name a few. In some cases, even medications taken to combat other issues may affect an elderly person’s mood.
So, as you can see, in many ways, trying to get a handle on an elderly person’s mood swings can feel like playing a game of whack a mole. On top of all of that, mood swings could be a symptom of dementia.
Our Brains Change with Age
The other thing to keep in mind when it comes to mood swings is that as we age, our brains continue to change. One report shows that after age 40, our brains shrink in size by up to 5% every decade; meanwhile, after the age of 70, the rate of shrinkage can increase. As a result of these and other changes in the brain, memory and emotions are affected, and the risk of dementia increases as we get older.
How to Recognize Mood Swings in Seniors
Now that we know a bit more about mood swings and their causes, we wanted to take a look at what to watch out for. Specifically, we wanted to point out some warning signs that indicate changes in an older person’s mental health that can lead to mood swings. Ideally, catching any of these will give you and the person in your care time to enact a plan to deal with it.
Some of the obvious and immediate signs of mental distress in an older person can include things like:
- Crying randomly, seemingly for no reason
- Sudden switches in mood or temperament
- Sudden violent outbursts
An important note here is that if an older person in your care does have a violent outburst, don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Any physical escalation could lead to more trouble all around. Instead, seek help.
Thankfully, there is a wide variety of telemedicine therapy options if needed.
There are also slightly more drawn-out signs that an older person’s mood may have stability issues. Drastic changes in a person’s eating and sleeping habits are perfect examples. Such as the person in your care suddenly sleeping way more or, on the opposite end of that, suddenly suffering from insomnia. Changes in eating habits are another thing to watch out for. Is the person in your care suddenly eating way more? Or do you find that they have lost any interest in food?
It’s also important to keep an eye on your elderly person’s social habits. We’re not saying you should closely monitor their every social interaction or anything. But watch for extreme changes in their social behavior. If the person in your care had a social life and suddenly seemingly withdrew from society, that could be an indication of depression or anxiety.
As previously mentioned, there could be all sorts of reasons for a person’s shift in mood, and things such as physical pain may even play into it. If a person is in constant pain, they are bound to be a bit testy. However, mood swings and symptoms of the mental health issues mentioned could indicate bigger problems. According to a report by Time Magazine, roughly 9% of Americans aged 65 and up have dementia. A key to staying ahead of any potential mental health issues or mood swings is eternal vigilance.
Due to the variety of symptoms that may lead to a mood swing, it’s imperative to keep track and even take note of these symptoms for the good of you and the person in your care.
How to handle an older person’s Mood Swings
Now that we know a bit about mood swings and their causes, let’s explore the best ways to help deal with an older person’s mood swings.
Remain calm and show empathy:
I know it seems hard, but it’s essential to remain calm in the face of a sudden mood swing. Keep in mind that while an older person’s mood swings are obviously not fun for caregivers, they aren’t intentional or pleasant for the person experiencing them either. No older person wakes up and decides, “I am going to have a massive mood swing at some point today! Maybe I’ll suddenly burst into tears or angrily lash out at my loved ones without warning. That will make things exciting!” While there are steps that can be taken to help, which we’ll get into, sometimes mood swings just happen. So don’t take it personally and try to empathize with what they are going through. It can be frustrating and embarrassing to lose control like that suddenly.
If you get angry or visibly frustrated, it may only escalate things. Instead, let them know that they are loved, they are safe, and that everyone knows the outburst wasn’t their fault.
Listen, but don’t judge:
Take the time to really listen to the person in your care during or following an outburst. A great way to do this is to ask them open-ended questions such as “How are you feeling now?” and “What do you think brought that on?” Asking these types of questions helps them feel heard if they are lashing out because they feel lonely. Hopefully, this dialogue will also take their mind off of whatever caused the outburst to begin with.
Let them know that how they feel is entirely valid. No matter what they say, even if you disagree, don’t judge them for it. Remember, it takes great strength and trust for an older person to open up and share their feelings. So, the older person in your care needs to know they aren’t being negatively judged for it. Otherwise, they may be reluctant to open up in the future. Again, imagine how you would feel in their situation and how you would want to be treated.
Don’t be afraid to reach out for help:
Being a caregiver is, without doubt, one of the most selfless and compassionate things a person can do. I know that, at times, it can also feel incredibly isolating. So with that in mind, it is important to know the options available, whether it’s their physician or if you seek help via an online therapist or phone counseling. An excellent resource for the latter includes:
The 998 Lifeline -This service provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. It can be accessed by simply calling or texting 998. They can also be reached for an online chat at their website.
Remember, you are not alone in this.
Tips for keeping mood swings at bay
Even though there is no magic “off button” for a person’s mood swings, as their caregiver there are steps you can take to help keep them at bay.
Look for triggers and try to eliminate them.
Every time the older person in your care has a mood swing, note what caused it so you’ll have a running log. If you notice a pattern, try to eliminate the things that trigger these mood swings, like maybe avoiding certain topics of conversation or making sure their environment is warm and welcoming.
Help Manage Their Medications
As previously mentioned, an older person’s medications can unintentionally hurt their mental health. It could even be as simple as them taking the wrong dosage. If you feel their medication is causing a problem, it’s best to reach out to their doctor.
Promote A Healthy physical & nutritional lifestyle
It’s no secret that physical activity and proper nutrition are good for our physical and mental health. Studies have shown that regular exercise, along with a healthy diet and low to moderate alcohol consumption, may act as a form of “protection” against age-related illnesses, including dementia. As a result, this presents an excellent opportunity to promote a healthier lifestyle for the person in your care. Even a daily walk around the block in the fresh air can help.
Stimulate the brain.
Another way to help fight mood swings and dementia as a whole is to keep the brain stimulated and learning, either by playing board games, reading, picking up a new hobby, or watching documentaries. Even better, if the person in your care enjoys board or card games, playing them with other people is also a fantastic way to socialize. Doing so helps to fight loneliness and isolation, which can be detrimental.
Don’t forget about self care!
Finally, let’s talk about you. Yes, you, the caregiver who may have been affected by the mood swings we’ve discussed today. Never forget that your mental, emotional, and physical health is just as important.
Unfortunately, there will almost certainly come a time when you feel absolutely “burnt out.” Be it from outside factors such as relationship or financial stress, or maybe even just due to your duties as a caregiver. Please know that feeling overwhelmed by it all is totally normal. Some things to watch out for in yourself are:
- Always feeling rundown
- Sleeping too much or not enough
- Drug or alcohol use to cope
- Feeling sad or uninterested
- Always feeling anxious
- Being quicker to anger than usual.
- Frequent headaches
- Rapid weight loss or weight gain.
The truth is that if you’re overburdened as a caregiver, despite how much you may want to help the person in your care, you may unintentionally harm them.
So what can you do?
First off, know that you are not alone in this. The Mayo Health Clinic suggests that if you are overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask for help from others. Also, consider joining a support group; being around people with shared experiences may help boost you. Remember to only focus on what you can do. You can’t do it all, so don’t stress yourself by trying to. Finally, take care of your health. Eat right, exercise a bit, always try to get a good night’s sleep, and drink plenty of water.
Conclusion
As we have seen in this blog, there are many reasons why an older person may experience mood swings. While knowing why mood swings happen and how to manage them is important, practicing self-care is no less critical. Doing so allows you to provide the best care possible so the person in your care can live the best life possible. Hopefully, this blog will help you going forward. Always remember that additional help is out there.
