Bipolar In The Elderly

We all know that as you get older things change. People will start noticing changes in your moods, your energy levels or even your likes and dislikes. But watching someone you love suffer from a mental health disorder is disheartening. Especially when it is undiagnosed and untreated. Bipolar in the elderly is become more and more common. We are going to look at an elderly Mother who has undiagnosed Bipolar and doesn’t know how to accept she might be suffering from a mental health problem. It’s starting to consume the kind, soft person you used to know, and you want her ‘old self’ back.

Bipolar disorder in the elderly is one of those undiagnosed mental health disorders. As people age their memory starts to fade, their moods changes and one just assumes its part of growing old. Cognitive decline is a notable feature in older adults with bipolar disorder and can often be mistaken for normal aging, making it important to consider underlying causes. 

What happens if it is more than part of growing old? What happens if it is an untreated mental health disorder? Bipolar in the elderly can be managed and treated to enhance their quality of living. But how, you may be wondering? Well, the same way as any other mental health disorder and any person of any age. The answer to this question is by meeting with a professional who specializes in Bipolar. And family members can educate themselves about the disorder. 

You are here to help understand Bipolar and more importantly what is Bipolar in the elderly. You want to know how you can help your kind, soft-hearted Mother find a way to manage her symptoms and lead a life without the drastic ups and downs. 

Whether it’s your Mother or Mother-in-law battling with Bipolar, it can be extremely scary for them. They can’t understand why they get these bursts of energy and then want to sleep for 4 days straight after it. It can be difficult for them to accept that they might be suffering from a mental health disorder. They might be in denial or refuse to accept that there might be something medically wrong.

From my personal experience, my Mother-in-law has great days. She’s dolled up and ready to take on the world. She is extremely friendly and welcoming. She wants to take on her backyard or redesign her kitchen. Then the next day, she is angry and wants to fight about simple things. She climbs into her bed and we don’t hear or see her for days. Leaving us wondering if she is okay. Then she is back to planning her future retirement years and even going on a date or two. 

People who suffer from Bipolar can go days, weeks, and months without an episode. Take my Mother-in-law, for example, it has been 14 days since her last episode. She is currently renovating her entire home. Redoing her kitchen, redoing her bathrooms. Breaking out walls, putting in new sliding doors. She is even moving to another home for a few months so that her building team can really start ripping things apart. And there she is smiling and excited. Ready for her new home to be finished. I even got asked to help her choose new tiles and counters for her kitchen and bathrooms. Let me just say, the home is going to look amazing. I can’t wait to see the finished product. With her moving to another home for a few months, who will keep an eye on her? How will we know she is mentally doing okay? 

It can be hard to keep track of whether it’s an up or down day. We walk around on eggshells, waiting for an outburst or wondering if she’s in our kitchen rearranging our cupboards. It’s taxing on even the most well-balanced family members. You can see the drastic change in her moods daily, and you want to reach out to her and ask her if she needs to see a Doctor. But the fear of her reaction if you mention the Doctor’s name means you avoid the topic. 

Another thing we noticed with my Mother-in-law is that her memory is terrible. After she has an outburst in which she shouts and screams at everyone, she will simply forget. We will all be hurt and upset around her and she just walks around like nothing happened. Smiling or sleeping, depending if it’s an up or down day. She won’t understand why no one wants to come for tea or to talk. When we mention what she did, she denies it and states she never did such a thing. 

Bipolar can cause you to suffer from brain fog and this will cause you to forget the simplest tasks, things you might have been doing for years. All of a sudden you forget the pot on the stove or forget to take the laundry out of the dryer.  Simple things that would have been second nature in the past are now proving more complicated.

Cognitive functioning can be significantly affected from Bipolar in the elderly, making it harder to distinguish between symptoms of bipolar disorder and other causes of memory loss. 

You want to help her, you see her struggling. If only you understood how to help, and how to approach the topic of her going for a mental health evaluation, without causing an outburst or putting her in a depressive state for days on end. People are often afraid to be labeled as someone with a mental health disorder, but by getting diagnosed, you can finally lead a normal life, understanding the disorder better and getting the appropriate treatment and support. 

Explaining to your Mother that you aren’t here to judge her. You only want to help her. Help her find her strength, help her get treatment if she needs it. You love her and you want to support her.