Common Causes Of Extreme Fatigue In The Elderly
Fatigue is a common issue for older adults. A 2026 report in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association noted that fatigue affected almost 30% of 70-year-old adults and 77.2% of 85-year-olds. In every age group, survival rates were notably higher among those without fatigue.
Understanding extreme fatigue, how it affects older adults, and the common causes can help you determine if you or a loved one needs to seek medical care.
What Extreme Fatigue Looks Like In Older Adults And How It Differs From Normal Age-Related Tiredness
Everyone feels tired sometimes, but extreme fatigue is different from typical age-related tiredness.
Three key distinctions between extreme fatigue and regular tiredness are:
- Duration: Being tired is a short-term issue that passes. Extreme fatigue continues for months.
- Rest-resistant: Extreme fatigue worsens over time. An older person may spend weeks in bed and feel less energetic despite resting.
- Severity: Extreme fatigue is consuming. It affects every part of the body, and motivation isn’t enough to replenish a person’s energy level if they’re struggling with extreme fatigue.
Common Causes Of Extreme Fatigue
There are many reasons the elderly may experience extreme fatigue. Common causes include the following:
- Anemia: When a person is anemic, they have a shortage of red blood cells. Red blood cells are crucial because they supply oxygen to the body’s tissues, making the body work harder, decreasing metabolism, and causing muscle weakness and fatigue. Iron deficiencies and chronic inflammation are common causes of anemia.
- Chronic health problems: Among those 65 and older, 93% have a chronic health condition. Depending on the condition, the body’s systems may have to work harder, leading to fatigue, or a slowed metabolism can result in decreased energy.
- Dehydration: You have reduced blood volume if you’re dehydrated. When you have reduced blood volume, it takes more energy for your body to deliver the oxygen it needs, which can cause fatigue.
- Hormonal issues: Changes in your metabolism and estrogen or testosterone levels cause fatigue.
- Infections: Infections weaken your immune system and trigger inflammation, which can lead to fatigue.
- Lack of sleep: Poor sleep contributes to fatigue.
- Mental health: Anxiety and depression reduce energy levels, and those treated for depression may be prescribed medication that causes fatigue.
- Pain: It’s common to have difficulty sleeping and suffer emotional stress when you’re in pain. Both poor sleep and mental health challenges can cause fatigue.
- Side effects of medication: Medications, including those for depression and hypertension, cause fatigue.
- Vitamin deficiencies: Iron and B12 deficiencies contribute to fatigue.
Emotional And Cognitive Factors
Depression affects 15% of adults 65 and older. Many factors contribute to depression in older adults, such as social isolation, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life due to health issues or the inability to engage in preferred activities.
- Some feel isolated because they struggle to hear others, affecting their ability to enjoy socializing. Others feel isolated because of mobility issues or other health challenges.
- Cognitive decline can cause depression and anxiety.
- Many older adults struggle with anxiety due to changes in their physical abilities that prevent them from enjoying their favorite activities.
Since social isolation and cognitive decline can cause anxiety and depression, they can directly contribute to extreme fatigue in older adults.
When Ongoing Fatigue May Signal The Need For Skilled Nursing Care Or Professional Evaluation
You or your older loved one may need to see a doctor or seek skilled nursing care if you experience fatigue with the following symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Cognitive changes, such as confusion
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Insomnia
- Memory loss
- Night sweats
- Unexplained muscle pain
- Unexplained weight loss
Other signs that indicate you or your loved one should seek medical care include:
- Fatigue lasts 14 days or more.
- Fatigue affects you or your loved one’s ability to work or engage in recreational activities.
- Sleeping does not make you or your loved one feel refreshed.
How Monument Health Helps Seniors Manage Fatigue
Monument Health’s medical professionals provide assessments for those experiencing fatigue. Our team creates personalized care plans focused on each person’s unique treatment goals, aiming to restore health as quickly as possible.
Monument Health’s custom treatment plans may include the following:
- Dietary guidance: Monument Health provides nutritious meals and customizes meal plans for individuals struggling with nutritional deficiencies.
- Hydration support: Our team will help ensure you stay hydrated to avoid fatigue from dehydration.
- Medication management: Our team will ensure you take the right amount of the proper medication at the right time and monitor your response to the medication and make adjustments if you experience side effects.
- Therapy services: Our team includes occupational, physical, and speech therapists who customize therapy plans to help you regain your energy. For example, physical therapy can help manage your pain, improve your sleep, and help you regain your energy.
Benefits For Families
Monument Health’s skilled nursing facilities provide expert medical care for older adults. Whether you or your loved one is suffering from a chronic health condition, mental health challenges, or nutritional deficiencies, you’ll receive expert, personalized care that addresses the root cause of your extreme fatigue so you can rebuild your energy levels.
When you trust Monument Health to care for you or your loved one, you and your family will enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing devoted medical professionals are identifying the root of the fatigue, providing expert treatment, monitoring progress, and adjusting treatments to ensure optimal results.
