What Causes Dizziness in the Elderly?

Dizziness is a serious concern for elderly people because it can lead to falling and being injured. When a person says they feel dizzy, they may mean that they faint, weak, or unsteady. Cases where the person feels like the room around them is spinning are called vertigo. Although dizziness is a very common reason for people to seek treatment in an emergency room, it is rarely a sign of a life-threatening condition. However, since it can cause seniors to fall, if your parent is experiencing dizziness or vertigo, it may be a good idea to seek medical care.

Causes of Dizziness

There are many things that can cause dizziness and vertigo, and the specific feeling your parent experiences can help the doctor to determine what is causing the problem. One of the things that can cause vertigo is a problem with the inner ear. The body relies on the sensory input of the inner ear to maintain balance, but when something causes the sensors in the inner ear to send signals that don’t match up with signals from the eyes and other sensory nerves, it causes vertigo. Some of the inner ear conditions that can cause vertigo are infection, Meniere’s disease, migraine, and benign paroxysmal position vertigo (BPPV).

Circulation problems can cause dizziness when the brain does not receive enough of a blood supply. When a person’s blood pressure drops quickly, which can occur when they sit up or stand too fast, they can feel faint. Certain conditions that affect the cardiovascular system, like heart arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy, can also cause dizziness.

There are several other things that can also cause dizziness, like low blood sugar, low iron levels, dehydration, and overheating. Once your parent’s doctor has determined the cause of the dizziness, a plan for care and management can be developed.

How an Elder Care Provider Can Help Your Parent with Dizziness

If your parent suffers from dizziness, there are several things professional elder care providers can do to manage the symptoms and prevent falls or injuries, such as:

• In cases where dizziness makes driving unsafe, an elder care provider can drive your parent to appointments or to go shopping as needed.
• An elder care provider can help ensure your parent drinks enough liquids throughout the day to avoid dehydration and overheating.
• To prevent falls, an elder care provider can help to fall-proof a home by removing things your parent might trip over.
• When your parent feels dizzy, an elder care provider can help to keep them safe by escorting them to a chair or a bed.

If your parent experiences vertigo, an elder care provider can help them lie down in a darkened room until the feeling passes.

Sources
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/basics/causes/con-20023004
http://vestibular.org/sites/default/files/page_files/Documents/Balance%20and%20Aging_Vestibular%20Function%20in%20the%20Older%20Adult.pdf
http://www.enttoday.org/article/vertigo-in-the-elderly-what-does-it-mean/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20023004
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/basics/definition/con-20023004

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Grand Ledge, MI, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors of Lansing. Call today: 517-332-9953.