Senior mental health issues are common among older adults and they may range from isolation, anxiety, and affective disorders, to psychosis, and dementia among others. Many older adults also suffer from behavioral and sleep disorders along with confusion or deterioration states that are caused by surgical interventions or physical disorders. Continue reading to find out more.
Senior Mental Health Issues
Mental illness is not regarded as a natural part of aging. In fact, it can affect younger adults more often as opposed to the elderly. However, older adults suffering from mental illness are less likely to seek the necessary treatment. The most common psychiatric disorder among older adults is dementia or severe cognitive impairment. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, roughly five million adults over the age of 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
Mood disorders and depression affect up to 5% of the elderly population and up to 13.5% of them are hospitalized or receiving home health care for other conditions with their mental health issues going undiagnosed and untreated. This is a disturbing fact but it is highly prevalent in today’s older population.
Depression is often accompanied by anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders can include various issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobias. Almost 8% of the elderly population have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at some point in their retirement.
Senior Mental Health Risks
Everyone experiences stress so do older adults. Even the regular physical and normal stresses that accompany aging can pose a risk for mental issues. It is vital for caregivers to pay close attention to their aging loved one’s mental health, especially for those who are aging in place on their own and do not have as many social and recreational opportunities. There are many potential triggers for senior mental health issues such as the following:
- Dementia-causing diseases like Alzheimer’s
- Substance or alcohol abuse
- Chronic illness
- Loss of loved ones
- Loss of mobility of physical disability
- Medication interactions
- Malnutrition or poor diet
- Physical illnesses that can affect memory, emotion, and thought
Assessing Senior Mental Health
One of the main problems with diagnosing and treating senior mental health issues is because of the fact that older adults are more likely to complain about physical symptoms as opposed to psychiatric problems. Many older adults may not even be aware of their own mental health issues. This is precisely why caregivers need to keep a close watch on their loved one’s mental health and seek proper treatment should they believe their loved one is experiencing any issues with their mental health. Here are some things that you can assess to determine whether you need to bring your loved one for a professional consultation:
- Safety including driving and financial safety
- Activities of daily living like grooming, feeding, toileting, showering, dressing, and overall mobility
- Physical health including symptoms of discomfort, pain, or loss of appetite
- Medication management including taking medication in the wrong dosage or at the wrong timing
- Brain health and mood such as feelings of isolation, sadness, and loss of interest in social activities
