Seniors & Mental Health

Unlike many health issues, mental illness is not something that becomes more prevalent with age. However, in the United States, there is a general stigma surrounding mental health. Because of that, seniors are less likely to seek help when they’re struggling. It can also be more challenging to determine whether your loved one is suffering some of the basic effects of aging or a decline in mental health as many of the symptoms mirror one another. That makes it even more important to know what mental health issues, signs, and symptoms to be on the lookout for.

Dementia & Alzheimer’s

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are the most recognized senior mental health issues, mostly affecting those over 65. Nearly 10% of seniors, about 5 million individuals, have Alzheimer’s or other severe cognitive impairment.

Symptoms include increased memory loss and confusion, difficulty thinking logically and organizing thoughts, problems coping with new situations, inability to learn new things, shortened attention span, and problems reading, writing, working with numbers, and difficulty with language.

Anxiety Disorders

Various mental health issues fall into the category of anxiety disorders. Familiar ailments like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and phobias are all considered anxiety disorders and can affect people of all ages. Approximately 8% of all seniors have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of many of these disorders are often mistaken for signs of age. Things like:

• • • Repetition of their words or movements
    • Social isolation
    • Agitation
    • Irritability
    • Difficulty parting with things
    • A tendency toward indecisiveness
    • Problems with planning and organization

Depression

Depression is not a mental health problem exclusive to the senior community. But again, many of the symptoms of depression can be written off as signs of aging. It can also be accompanied by other disorders.

The World Health Organization and the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation list possible triggers for mental illness in the elderly as:

• • • Alcohol or substance abuse
    • Dementia-causing illness (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease)
    • Illness or loss of a loved one
    • Long-term illness (e.g., cancer or heart disease)
    • Chronic pain
    • Medication interactions
    • Physical disability or loss of mobility
    • Physical illnesses that can affect emotion, memory, and thought
    • Poor diet or malnutrition

Knowing what the symptoms are means that you can keep a closer eye on your loved ones. If you begin to see these signs, you’ll be able to get them the help they need.

We also know that isolation is a large factor when it comes to seniors and mental health. At Evergreen Senior Living in Chillicothe, we are proud to provide a loving, caring community for our seniors to keep them engaged and active. Contact us today to learn more about our campus and how we keep our residents happy.