Epilepsy in Older Adults
When our parents or loved ones reach their sixties, seventies or eighties, experiencing unusual feelings such as loss of time, suspended awareness, and confusion is common, and you may think that “getting older” is to blame. However, there could be another explanation for this change in behavior: they might be one of the 300,000 seniors with epilepsy. Seniors age 65 and older are the fastest-growing segment of epilepsy patients in the United States, and the condition has been difficult to diagnose. The increase in epilepsy diagnoses in seniors has led to more healthcare professionals becoming more aware of how to care for them.
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder affecting 3-million Americans. Regardless of age, 1-in-26 people in the United States will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime. Although seniors make up ten percent of the people affected by this condition, their diagnosis can be delayed due to the symptoms being mistaken for dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, depression or just normal aging. Some leading causes of epilepsy and seizures in older adults include the after effects of sudden strokes, tumors or cardiovascular events (heart attack or myocardial infarction).
Being diagnosed later in life can pose additional problems with treatments due to age-related issues and the use of other medications. There’s an increased risk of your loved one falling and breaking bones during an episode. Each seizure also puts extra strain on their heart, due to the reduced intake of oxygen during an episode. Caring for a senior with epilepsy presents different challenges from a child with the condition, but the main principle is the same when handling their seizures: “Protect the person from harm until full awareness returns.”
The Epilepsy Foundation provides several tips to help you when handling convulsion in an older adult.
- Ease the person into a reclining position on the floor or flat surface.
- Place something soft and flat under their head.
- Turn him or her gently onto one side to prevent choking and keep the airway clear.
- If the person is already seated, turn them gently to one side so any fluids drain away from the mouth.
- Don’t attempt to force anything into their mouth. Seizures do not cause people to swallow their tongues.
- Don’t attempt to give any fluids or medicine until the seizure is completely over and full alertness has return.
- Don’t attempt to restrain the jerking movements. Applying restraint could cause tears in the muscles or even break a bone, especially in seniors.
Although epileptic seizures are usually not life-threatening, they can stop the most active seniors from living an independent and satisfying lifestyle. Many seniors with epileptic seizures are treated and the condition is managed successfully.
If your loved one or someone you know has epilepsy and could use assistance with remaining independent in the comfort of their home, contact Visiting Angels today. We offer professional, individualized, in-home care to adults and seniors in Mercer and Burlington County, New Jersey.
