Recognizing and Reducing Anxiety
Recognizing and Reducing Anxiety
Dec 22, 2016
Anxiety, an experience of tension and apprehension, is an ordinary response to a threat or danger. Excessive anxiety that causes distress or interferes with daily life is not a normal part of the aging process. Michael Fresé, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist specializing in geropsychology. He recently sat down with e-Connections to talk about the signs and symptoms of anxiety among seniors.
Have you experienced heart palpitations, feeling out of breath, or a sensation of being suffocated? Are there times when you sense numbness or tingling in your fingers, chills or hot flashes, restlessness? How about difficulty concentrating, memory gaps, irritability, or feeling like you are at the end of your rope? If so, you might be experiencing anxiety or have an anxiety disorder.
Among older adults, many worry about their increasing number of health issues, family, limited finances, and their own mortality. More often than not, these worries can become exacerbated when individuals experience either a mental or physical decline and a loss of autonomy. When the anxiety is at a level which causes significant impairment in daily functioning and is a source of distress, it is considered an anxiety disorder.
Some of the causes of anxiety in older adults include losses during the aging process (loss of autonomy, health, intellectual capacity, loved ones) as well as having thoughts of danger and vulnerability associated with losses.
Similar to depression, when asked, many older adults deny feeling anxious. Individuals might admit to feeling overwhelmed, worried, having a short fuse, or experiencing physical sensations that they attribute to old age. In addition to the symptoms listed above, it is important to inquire about the following:
- Appetite: individuals who are anxious might overeat to calm themselves, resulting in weight gain or they may lose weight by skipping meals
- Going out: anxious individuals might stay at home to avoid their fears
- Interests: those who are anxious have a difficult time finding pleasurable activities as they become more fearful
- Physical complaints: as older adults are more likely to report physical causes of their anxiety symptoms (as well as experience medical conditions that might overlap the symptoms of anxiety), asking about such physical complaints as chest pain or shortness of breath is important
- Sleep: People experiencing anxiety might sleep to avoid their fears or have difficulty sleeping due to ruminating about imagined or exaggerated fears
- Social isolation: social contact and activity is important for lifting a person’s spirit and calming their fears; however, sometimes a person’s anxiety is such that they find a false sense of security in being alone, which can increase their level of anxiety and result in a vicious cycle.
You might be saying to yourself, “that sounds like me!,” or “that sounds like someone I know!” and you are curious to know what you can do to help yourself or a loved one.
- For some, a family member or friend might be able to provide comfort and reassurance. For others, being engaged in creative, social, or other activities that are of interest can be helpful. Getting to the source of the anxiety and dealing with it directly is very important. For example, helping older adults deal with concerns about being a burden, financial matters, and health issues can make a difference.
- Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, problem solving, and interpersonal psychotherapy are all effective ways of helping those with anxiety. Psychoeducation and support in managing anxiety in structured ways, such as progressive muscle relaxation and deep breathing, have been shown to reduce anxiety.
- When psychotherapy alone isn’t enough, psychiatric medications such as Ativan, Klonopin, or Xanax might be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
If you find yourself feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or worried, don’t hesitate to ask for help, whether from a family member, friend, or healthcare professional. Anxiety can be managed and treated, and your quality of life can be improved.
Recent Articles
Nov
29
Grand Opening of Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Program West Los Angeles Location
Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC) PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a program of Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH), held an opening celebration for its new facility located at 9800 Pico Boulevard in West L.A. The day included well wishes from dignitaries, a ribbon cutting, and an open house offering tours of the new facility to more than 150 guests in attendance.
Formerly the site of a Chase Bank branch, the building has undergone a comprehensive transformation and is now a state-of-the-art social center for older adults. The facility includes medical and dental clinics, and inviting activities rooms. Poised to enroll its first participants on December 1, 2023, the new BCSC location will provide adult day health care services to hundreds of local seniors, 55 and older, who can take advantage of door-to-door shuttle service to and from the center. This is the second Brandman Centers for Senior Care facility; the first is located on the Grancell Village campus of Los Angeles Jewish Health in Reseda.
PACE is a vital program of Los Angeles Jewish Health, a non-profit health system that cares for 4,000 seniors each year. Program participants receive medical care onsite from doctors, dentists, nurses, and therapists whose specialties include primary and specialty care; medications; nutritional counseling, state-of-the-art medical equipment and supplies; optometry; hearing aids; podiatry; and mental health counseling.
Brandman Centers are a safe and enjoyable place to come and participate in stimulating activities, enjoy delicious and nutritious meals, and receive medical care. Brandman Centers for Senior Care Vice President Susie Fishenfeld said that opening the latest BCSC facility “has been a dream, a long time in the making as we worked to find the perfect location that will benefit the most seniors from the local community. We understand that today more seniors want to stay in their own homes, but they may be frail and need extra help and support to do so. Our PACE centers empower seniors to continue living independently at home while receiving vital services at thriving activity centers located near them. We even provide comfortable, sterilized shuttle transportation to and from the centers.”
Joining in the celebration was Los Angeles Jewish Health Chief Executive Officer and President Dale Surowitz, who shared that, “Today is a very special day for all of us at Los Angeles Jewish Health. We are immensely grateful to Joyce Brandman and the Saul and Joyce Brandman Foundation for funding this second Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE location. Joyce’s unwavering support of our work over the past decades has ensured the health of the older adults in our care, while enhancing the quality of life for each and every participant and their families. Support from donors like Joyce is what makes days like today possible.”
The PACE Program accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, and private pay. To find out more, call (855) 774-8444, or visit brandmanseniorcare.org.
You can see event photos at our photo gallery
Nov
15
Los Angeles Jewish Health Celebrates Opening of Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Program, Offering Care to Seniors on Los Angeles’ Westside
BCSC PACE West Los Angeles Location Opens
Program enables seniors to live independently in their homes while receiving vital health and social services in their local community
(November 15, 2023, Los Angeles) Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC) PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a program of Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH), held an opening celebration for its new facility located at 9800 Pico Boulevard in West L.A. The day included well wishes from dignitaries, a ribbon cutting, and an open house offering tours of the new facility to more than 150 guests in attendance.
Formerly the site of a Chase Bank branch, the building has undergone a comprehensive transformation and is now a state-of-the-art social center for older adults. The facility includes medical and dental clinics, and inviting activities rooms. Poised to enroll its first participants on December 1, 2023, the new BCSC location will provide adult day health care services to hundreds of local seniors, 55 and older, who can take advantage of door-to-door shuttle service to and from the center. This is the second Brandman Centers for Senior Care facility; the first is located on the Grancell Village campus of Los Angeles Jewish Health in Reseda.
PACE is a vital program of Los Angeles Jewish Health, a non-profit health system that cares for 4,000 seniors each year. Program participants receive medical care onsite from doctors, dentists, nurses, and therapists whose specialties include primary and specialty care; medications; nutritional counseling, state-of-the-art medical equipment and supplies; optometry; hearing aids; podiatry; and mental health counseling.
Brandman Centers are a safe and enjoyable place to come and participate in stimulating activities, enjoy delicious and nutritious meals, and receive medical care. Brandman Centers for Senior Care Vice President Susie Fishenfeld said that opening the latest BCSC facility “has been a dream, a long time in the making as we worked to find the perfect location that will benefit the most seniors from the local community. We understand that today more seniors want to stay in their own homes, but they may be frail and need extra help and support to do so. Our PACE centers empower seniors to continue living independently at home while receiving vital services at thriving activity centers located near them. We even provide comfortable, sterilized shuttle transportation to and from the centers.”
Joining in the celebration was Los Angeles Jewish Health Chief Executive Officer and President Dale Surowitz, who shared that, “Today is a very special day for all of us at Los Angeles Jewish Health. We are immensely grateful to Joyce Brandman and the Saul and Joyce Brandman Foundation for funding this second Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE location. Joyce’s unwavering support of our work over the past decades has ensured the health of the older adults in our care, while enhancing the quality of life for each and every participant and their families. Support from donors like Joyce is what makes days like today possible.”
The PACE Program accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, and private pay. To find out more, call (855) 774-8444, or visit brandmanseniorcare.org.
You can see event photos at our photo gallery
Oct
31
When It Comes to Providing Expert Care for Veterans, Los Angeles Jewish Health Is Proud to Serve
In December 2022, when Navy veteran Ed Vibar, 72, first came to Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC), a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), he rolled his wheelchair through the doors. Ed had been unable to walk for four years, following an ankle injury. He had begun to lose hope that he would ever recover his mobility and had turned to LA Jewish Health and BCSC PACE as a last resort.
For Ed, the road to Los Angeles Jewish Health had been a winding one. He immigrated to the United States from the Philippines as a young man and enlisted to serve his adopted country, spending 12 years on active duty and another five in the Naval Reserve. He loved his work, which included stints on a guided missile destroyer in Vietnam and a project management position that had him collaborating with the Army Corps of Engineers to oversee a $300 million budget. During the course of his career, Ed was married three times and had four children, bringing him the attendant joys and heartaches that can accompany domestic life.
Ed Vibar
Retirement brought an end to Ed’s health insurance, so when he injured his ankle in his late 60s, he sought care at his local Veteran’s Affairs Hospital. Though imaging showed damage to nerve tissue and tendons, at that time Ed was told the VA lacked the resources to provide appropriate therapy, and doctors informed him he was unlikely to recover the ability to walk. Meanwhile, the longer he remained confined to a wheelchair, the more his health declined, and he began to suffer from gout, high blood pressure, and depression. Being unable to drive made it hard to buy groceries and cook nutritious meals, and eventually, he lost all his teeth.
When he saw a brochure for BCSC PACE, Ed decided to investigate. “I went online and realized BCSC PACE was exactly what I needed,” he recalls. “In addition to offering state-of-the-art physical therapy, they would also coordinate all of my care and provide transportation, which was becoming increasingly difficult for me to access. And the costs were all taken care of thanks to my Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage!”
At BCSC PACE, Ed was paired up with Jensen De La Luna, an expert physical therapist who went to work creating a rigorous treatment plan. “Ed was clearly depressed, and initially, his drive to get better was fairly low. But we dove into therapy twice each week, and his motivation picked up. After three months, he started walking again,” Jensen says.
For Ed, being able to get up and around with a walker was transformational. “Jensen inspired me to try, which really gave me a boost,” he says. “I kept thinking, if I work a little harder, I can travel to see my grandchildren.”
Soon, he was able to stand on his feet to cook, do dishes, and clean up after his dog. “It really changed my life, and I did end up taking the train to Texas, all on my own, to see my grandkids,” he says. “I owe it all to LA Jewish Health’s BCSC PACE program!”
Today, Jensen says Ed’s mobility has increased by more than 50 percent – and his pain has decreased by an equal amount. “I’m so happy for him,” Jensen says. “It’s amazing to see that someone who used to require a wheelchair to come see me can now walk right through the door!”
In addition to physical therapy, Ed also received occupational therapy (to help improve his performance of daily tasks) at the BCSC PACE program – and he had a team of professionals helping meet his other medical issues, as well. “I didn’t have proper teeth, and BCSC PACE got full dentures for me right away. Now, I can eat everything, including a full steak dinner. They were so amazing at anticipating my needs,” he says. “I used to be afraid to smile, but now I want to open my mouth wide and say, ‘Come to the BCSC PACE program and Los Angeles Jewish Health!’ I would recommend it to any veterans, and to all seniors who want to get better healthcare and improve their life situation.”
The Brandman Centers for Senior Care’s PACE program continues to expand to meet the needs of the community. The newest site – on Pico Boulevard, in West Los Angeles – is scheduled to open this November. For more information call (818) 774-8444 or go to BrandmanSeniorCare.org.
Ed Vibar and Physical Therapist Jensen De La Luna