How Seasonal Affective Disorder Impacts Seniors in and Near Santa Cruz

Moods and energy levels fluctuate with the changing of the seasons. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a condition that might present itself in some people as a result of these fluctuations in the environment. Many elderly people in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties struggle with this kind of depression. Understanding SAD in seniors and managing it correctly is crucial to their well-being.

At Visiting Angels Central Coast, we're committed to helping seniors in Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Salinas and surrounding areas in California maintain their independence as they age in place. As part of our approach to home care, we focus on improving our clients' quality of life, which often involves encouraging them to develop changes in their everyday routine to help them manage symptoms of chronic health conditions like SAD. You can count on our caregivers to provide the support your loved one needs to maintain their health and well-being as they live out their golden years in their cherished home, even if they've been diagnosed with SAD.

Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and How Home Care Can Help Seniors with SAD in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties

What is SAD? What are common symptoms of this disorder? How can professional home care help seniors living with SAD? Here's what families in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties should understand about this condition:

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

According to the National Institutes of Health, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a kind of seasonal depression that can worsen at certain times of the year. Even though the Central Coast region experience mild autumns and winters and nice and sunny springs and summers, there are still seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties who deal with symptoms of SAD due to the change in temperature and the length of a day.

What Are Symptoms of SAD?

Some symptoms of SAD include:

Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiousness or even feeling “empty”
Decreased interest or enjoyment of hobbies and activities
Feeling fatigued or slowed down
Trouble concentrating and making decisions
Changes in appetite, weight and sleep patterns

Many people who live with SAD have winter-pattern SAD, where symptoms tend to hit during the winter and autumn months when daylight hours are shorter. However, there are also some people who have summer-pattern SAD, where symptoms worsen during the spring and summer. The symptoms of winter-pattern SAD and summer-pattern SAD differ slightly.

People with winter-pattern SAD experience:

Social withdrawal
Oversleeping
Overeating

People living with summer-pattern SAD experience:

Weight loss as a result of a poor appetite
Trouble sleeping due to restlessness and agitation
Violent or aggressive behavior
Feelings of anxiety

Seniors with SAD typically experience these symptoms for about 4-5 months out of the year.

What Causes SAD?

Researchers aren't sure what causes Seasonal Affective Disorder. However, the Cleveland Clinic outlines some possible causes:

Change in sunlight, change in biological clock - When the seasons change, so does the amount of sunlight in a day. Sunlight impacts our biological clocks, which control our moods, sleep and hormones. So when the daylight lengthens or shortens during the change in seasons, people with SAD may not be able to adjust to how it impacts their everyday schedule.

Vitamin D - We get most of our vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, and vitamin D controls our serotonin levels. People with winter-pattern SAD may feel sluggish and depressed due to less vitamin D as a result of less sunlight during the day, while people with summer-pattern may get a burst of energy that's difficult to control due to an increase in vitamin D levels from increased sunlight.

Changes in melatonin levels - Melatonin can influence the body's mood and sleep patterns. People with winter-pattern SAD may feel sleepier during colder months because the lack of sunlight causes their bodies to produce more melatonin, while prolonged sunlight during the warmer months may cause people with summer-pattern SAD to have trouble sleeping because their bodies don't produce as much melatonin.

Additionally, several variables, such as changes in circadian rhythms, changes in exposure to sunshine, and pre-existing health issues, make the older population more susceptible to SAD.

How Can SAD Impact Seniors?

In order to detect these subtle signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder, family members and caregivers must be very attentive and watchful. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may worsen preexisting conditions in the elderly, including diabetes, heart disease, and cognitive impairment. If we want to help people manage and cope with their mental health, we need to understand how the seasons affect it.

How Can Home Care from Visiting Angels Central Coast Help Seniors Manage Symptoms of SAD?

Visiting Angels Central Coast offers comprehensive home care services to seniors in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, tending to both their physical and emotional needs. Our caregivers have the power to provide a supportive atmosphere that helps older individuals cope with symptoms of SAD.

Making sure you get enough natural light is a crucial part of dealing with SAD. Our caregivers can help your loved one go outside more, make sure they get at least one walk per day, and even rearrange furniture in their house so that they get the most sunshine possible. Their mood and energy levels may be significantly affected by these simple solutions.

Loneliness and feelings of alienation may amplify the effects of SAD. Visiting Angels Central Coast offers companion care so that our caregivers may have meaningful discussions with your loved one and provide emotional support to help them overcome the negative consequences of withdrawing from society. For seniors suffering from SAD, making a connection might greatly improve their mental health.

Here at Visiting Angels Central Coast, we understand the unique difficulties that seniors have with SAD and work directly with families to create individualized care plans that meet their needs. This personalized method of home care guarantees that seniors residing in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties who are dealing with SAD get the appropriate assistance at the appropriate moment.

When dealing with SAD in the elderly, it's important to have a comprehensive strategy that considers both their physical and mental health. Seniors may easily manage the difficulties of SAD while aging in place with the help of Visiting Angels Central Coast's caregivers who are dedicated to providing personalized, one-on-one home care in an empathetic and supportive manner.

Call Visiting Angels Central Coast at 831-430-0616 or fill out our form to learn how our in-home caregivers can help your aging loved one!