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The reality is that mental health problems of the elderly occur. Many things cause seniors to experience worries, unhappiness, and intellectual dysfunctions. Those who are unable to cope or compelled by their condition may have problems with the way they think and act. So it pays to know what to do when old folks become unstable.
According to the World Health Organization, 15% of seniors have psychological disorders. An article in the Journal of Family Care and Primary Medicine even says that it is 20%. The National Institute of Mental Health studied in 2020 to address these things. They say that only 64.5% of adults with serious mental conditions received treatment too. Thus the importance of addressing aging mental health issues is very clear.
Do Something About The Mental Health Problems Of The Elderly
Recognizing mental health problems for the elderly is as important as acting on them. They are real and need solutions. But some old people can identify their symptoms while others are oblivious to them. It isn’t only due to the lack of information about psychological abnormalities too. In some cases, geriatric patients have issues perceiving problems. Thus caregivers need to take action and help with the assessment and treatment.
Our beloved seniors need care because they are vulnerable in the late stages of their lives. They deserve to have a good if not a great quality of life since they did so much to make the present possible. That reason is enough to act on matters of elderly mental illness.
The Common Elderly Mental Health Problems
Elders often experience different kinds of issues because of their frailty. So it’s understandable when they have difficulties performing specific tasks. Yet there are distinctive signs that seniors are having mental troubles too. These are the ones we ought to be watchful of.
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors mentioned older adults not getting treatment. It is since some diseases go unidentified and thus undiagnosed. So knowing the signs and symptoms of elderly mental health abnormalities helps.
Withdrawal or Isolation
It’s normal for people to steer clear of public places or keep their distance from others. But having constant distancing can be a problem. Social withdrawal can cause some aging mental health issues. That would be because it may result in anxiety and depression. Often, when these worsen, they turn a reclusive person to feel excessive sadness. In some cases, they may make seniors lose interest in so many things even including life.
Many encourage old-timers to get out and mingle because of the reasons mentioned. The National Institute of Aging even mentions loneliness as a serious issue. That is because it may lead to cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and death in the elderly.
Poor Eating and Hygiene
These very much relate to several mental health problems of the elderly. Poor nutrition and cleanliness may cause or can happen as a result of some senior problems. An example of the problem is the syndrome called dementia. Such causes apathy and depression. Alzheimer’s disease causes poor reasoning and memory problems in the elderly too. It may cause schizophrenia. Thus pay close attention to old people who don’t eat and clean themselves as often as they should.
Caregivers remind, encourage, and even assist geriatric patients to eat and bathe. They also check the nutritional status of the elders to see if they have self-neglect. Still, they take note of the behaviors of old people to see which needs improvement. It’s because these may already relate to conditions like the Diogenes syndrome.
Substance Abuse or Any Unhealthy Addiction
Many old people resort to taking too much of something. Others try doing things in excess. The field of medicine considers these mental health problems of the elderly too. It’s because they have negative effects on the brain. People’s perceptions of needs and desires get affected by these issues. Thus they are important to address when seniors do them. Pressure to take or having dependence on what hurts the body is a mental health problem.
Usually, those with serious problems with substance addiction or dependence get long-term therapy. It’s because gradual abstinence and distancing are often necessary.
Taking Steps For The Mental Health Problems Of The Elderly
Helping out means more than providing elderly care for daily living. It involves finding out the nature of the common health problems for the elderly. Also, part of it is aiding geriatric patients to get better or at least in living with their conditions. So there may be involvement of licensed physicians and caregivers too.
Likewise, family caregivers and significant others must make time and exert effort too. Even not always, being there for the mentally-ill seniors helps a lot. Providing the necessary assistive technology, manpower, and adjustments assists too. But it does pay to have solid plans to follow before taking measures to aid. After all, it pays to make things count.
Dealing With Mental Health Problems Of The Elderly
Elderly mental issues may be challenging but there are measures to handle them. Here are some simple yet effective tips to go about the steps.
Do a thorough assessment of the geriatric patients.
We the caregivers ought to have at least general ideas about the old people we care about. This means taking note of their mood, behavior, affect, and responses. It is important to do this from time to time too. After all, mental problems may take time to treat. Some of them even recur or need lifelong treatment.
Look for professional help.
Qualified physicians are experts in recognizing mental health problems for the elderly. They can even provide various appropriate medical treatment methods. For the care of seniors, going to a psychiatrist or geriatric doctor can help.
For busy people, there are also nurses and paid caregivers for hire. These people can take care of our loved old folks. Plus, they are often knowledgeable and experts in elderly care and assistive devices.
Communicate well with the old-timers.
If they can have conversations, is often best to talk to them to know about what’s happening. Also, in talking to our geriatric patients, we have the opportunity to see better what they mean. Upfront, they can show their strengths and weaknesses. That is by how they say things and their body language. So it pays to spend time conversing with the seniors.
Talking to those with psychological issues does have its fair share of problems. Thus patience and understanding, more than anything, are necessary. Take note that old people may get distracted often, dwell on certain topics, and feel tired with ease. These may add to aging mental health issues and make things worse as a result.
Lend a hand to address the mental health problems of the elderly.
This doesn’t mean taking over everything, though. It only means helping somehow. Only assist in specific aspects of geriatric lifestyle. That is where the mental health problems of the elderly cause persistent troubles.
For instance, drug administration may become an issue. It’s due to things like confusion and memory impairment. Thus we can help through the dispensing of the medicine. We can make sure that they get the right dose at the right time and route. Another way to help is to assist elders in getting out of bed and bathing. These could reduce the chances of falling.
Some Quick Facts About Elderly Mental Illness
The mental health problems of the elderly stem from the brain. It could be possible that thoughts or the mind caused the issues. The troubles could surface due to the brain’s chemical imbalances. Structural defects may result in thought and functional disorders too. So think about these before or while taking action to care for the elderly.
Some conditions worsen as time goes by while others disappear fast. This depends on the coping of those with the illnesses. The treatment measures available for geriatric patients also affect progress.
In Conclusion
The subject of the mental health problems of the elderly is a broad topic that needs attention. Neglecting it often makes situations worse for seniors and caregivers. Besides, having awareness of the issues only gives people ideas about their nature. Still, time and effort are essential in dealing with these problems. So it makes sense why people study these things and are thorough when they do. Managing issues early means being able to help elders have a quality of life faster.
