Throughout our lives, there are periods when we feel more tired than usual. This fluctuation in energy levels is entirely normal and can vary daily, weekly, and as we age. But at what age do you start feeling tired and more fatigued? While this varies for each individual, it’s common to experience decreased energy as we grow older due to cellular ageing and a slowing metabolism.
However, what if feelings of tiredness and fatigue persist? How does this specifically impact older adults? In this article, we will explore these questions in detail, examining the causes of extreme fatigue in older adults.
From understanding the potential causes of fatigue to learning how to prevent exhaustion in older adults, spreading awareness on this topic can help you recognise warning signs of various health conditions and support your loved ones if they experience persistent tiredness and fatigue.
What is extreme fatigue?
On the tiredness scale, extreme fatigue is at the far end of the spectrum. Extreme fatigue is not like regular tiredness. Sufferers can struggle with having enough energy to get out of bed and carry out usual everyday tasks and can feel like they just can’t get enough sleep. An elderly person sleeping all the time could be another sign that extreme fatigue is affecting their energy levels.
Extreme fatigue is a common symptom of a variety of health conditions and can appear alongside other symptoms, such as:
- Depression
- Poor concentration
- Low energy
- Lack of motivation
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Muscle weakness
What causes extreme tiredness in the elderly?
There are many possible causes of fatigue, from certain health conditions and medications to lifestyle factors. Fatigue can be temporary, or it can be categorised as chronic if it lasts for six months or more. Common causes of excessive tiredness include:
- Inadequate diet – deficiencies in certain nutrients or not eating enough can result in lack of energy in the elderly.
- Stress – is a well-known factor in the development of chronic fatigue as if it persists, long-term stress can lead to adrenal fatigue.
- Sleep disorders – such as insomnia or sleep apnoea, can affect sleep quality and lead to exhaustion in elderly people.
- Medication – certain medications such as beta blockers and opioids include feelings of fatigue as their side effects.
- Infections – an infection such as COVID-19, flu, or pneumonia could be causing extreme fatigue.
- Health conditions – individuals living with certain heart and lung issues, such as heart disease and emphysema, commonly present with symptoms of tiredness and fatigue.
- Mental health – people with depression, anxiety, and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) often experience feelings of fatigue.
- Other health conditions – type 1 diabetes, Multiple sclerosis (MS), and rheumatoid arthritis commonly cause fatigue in older adults.
- Eating disorders – are mistakenly associated with younger people, but elderly adults can develop eating disorders later in life. Loss of appetite, life changes, problems with dentures, and incontinence are just some of the reasons older adults may experience low energy due to an eating disorder.
- Deficiencies – certain medications, reduced exposure to sunlight, and decreased ability to absorb nutrients in old age, can result in deficiencies leading to tiredness and fatigue.
If you or a loved one suspect that a health condition or side effect from medication is the root cause of extreme fatigue then making an appointment with their doctor is the first port of call.
Top tips to prevent extreme fatigue
Whilst only a trained medical professional can help treat the symptoms of certain health conditions that cause tiredness and fatigue, you or your loved one can still address certain lifestyle factors.
Good sleep hygiene
In some cases, extreme fatigue could be prevented very simply by incorporating a good sleep routine before bedtime. Sleep disorders or wakefulness during the night can impact the quality of sleep and result in individuals not feeling refreshed when they wake up. Winding down just before bed can help settle the mind and get the body ready for an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Calming bedtime drinks, reading before bed, and lavender pillow sprays can all promote sleep.
Eating a healthy diet
Ensuring that your elderly loved one eats a varied and healthy diet can help to prevent extreme fatigue. There is a whole range of essential macro and micronutrients that are vital for many bodily functions as well as energy production. Deficiencies are a common cause of lack of energy in the elderly.
Stress management
Finding ways to manage stress is important to prevent extreme fatigue. Stress can be extremely draining and leave individuals feeling both mentally and physically exhausted. Meditation, mindfulness, and yoga are useful tools for battling stress.
Regular exercise
A good balanced exercise routine can help energise individuals. However, overdoing it can also negatively impact energy levels. If you are unsure where to begin, a personal training plan put together by a professional might be a positive start.
Weight maintenance
Aim to remain at a healthy weight with the help of your doctor or healthcare provider. Being underweight may be a sign that an individual’s daily intake of calories is too low, and this could, in turn, affect their energy levels.
When to see a GP
When feelings of extreme tiredness and fatigue persist for six months or more, it is advisable to see a GP. A professional opinion can help calm worries and, if needed, offer opportunities for referrals so that energy issues can be fully investigated.
Whilst it is normal to feel tired from time to time, you or your loved one should see a GP if experiencing:
- Fatigue that lasts longer than a few days
- Difficulties with performing daily activities
- Fatigue for no apparent reason
- Sudden spells of fatigue
- Unexpected weight loss
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the chest, arm or upper back
- Unusually fast (tachycardia) or slow (bradycardia) heartbeat
- Pounding or fluttering (heart palpitations) or irregular (arrhythmia) heartbeat
- Headaches
- Vision problems
- Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Muscle weakness
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Get in touch today
If fatigue is preventing you or your loved one from carrying out activities of daily life and making routine tasks more challenging, a live-in carer could be the answer. With Trinity Homecare’s live-in care services, a live-in carer can help older people living with extreme fatigue to live comfortably in their own home. From assisting with getting up in the morning to helping prepare nutritious, energising meals, Trinity Homecare’s live-in carers can provide helpful and practical solutions.
Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.
If you have any questions about arranging live-in care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging nationwide live-in dementia care with Trinity is straightforward. Simply follow these five steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time
