Senior citizens face various challenges and living situations due to their health or age. A common problem among the senior community is a decline in mental health due to multiple factors, including aging, losing friends or loved ones, and disability.
The best way seniors and their families can help manage mental health is to check in often, provide a support system, and seek medical treatment, including mental health counseling. Some senior mental health conditions are more prevalent in the senior community than others.
Common Senior Mental Health Conditions
Dementia
As humans age, our bodies and brains start declining in function. While dementia can have many symptoms, memory loss, confusion, or unprovoked agitation are common signs. Alzheimer’s, a brain disease, is a type of dementia that results in severe memory loss and cognitive decline.
As dementia affects the brain, it can cause a complete personality change. It’s difficult for those with dementia, including family members, to manage and handle the symptoms of the disease. Dementia cannot be cured, but symptoms can be managed, and effects can be mitigated through proper medical care, adequate supervision, and memory care.
Depression
Seniors may be dealing with losing friends or loved ones of a similar age. These losses can serve as a reminder that the human race doesn’t live forever. Further, aging bodies may not be able to handle as many activities as they once could. Health diagnoses can further exacerbate one’s mortality. Children leaving the nest can create a sense of loneliness.
All of these conditions can lead to depression, which is a chronic mental health condition that causes feelings of emptiness, sadness, and low self-esteem for extended periods (typically over two weeks). Mental health counseling, medication, and quality time can help manage these symptoms.
Addiction
Depression or trauma can increase the risk of addiction or substance abuse disorders in senior citizens. Seniors may handle grief, isolation, or trauma through binge drinking, prescription medication abuse, or other types of drugs.
Chronic pain may also lead to misuse of painkillers to help numb mental and physical pain. Only the addict can bring about recovery, but support systems and mental health counseling can serve as valuable tools if a senior wishes to recover.
Trauma and PTSD
Just like everyone else, seniors may have had traumatic experiences that result in mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is quite common in veterans, and many seniors have fought in World War II, the Vietnam War, or other traumatic military tours. Additionally, seniors may be exposed to nursing home abuse or neglect that can cause significant trauma.
Even seemingly minor occurrences like nursing home falls can be a more prominent sign of neglect or safety issues that can cause mental anguish. Older adults are particularly susceptible to abuse due to disability.
Mental health counseling and thorough vetting of any nursing home facility are vital in preventing and treating these issues. While PTSD has no solid cure, therapy and medication can help mitigate symptoms.
Loneliness
Many seniors may be dealing with the grief or loss of a loved one or friend as their peer group and family members age. When kids and grandkids leave the nest, they often live alone, which may cause physical or social isolation. Loneliness can lead to depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.
Physical isolation may also lead to safety problems or bodily injury, such as falls. Seniors can combat loneliness by living an active, healthy social life through senior communities, church groups, family outings, and more.
Anxiety
During the older years of one’s life, anxiety can develop due to grief, illness, disability, loneliness, or the fear of mortality. Anxiety is a chronic condition causing panic, nervousness, worry, or fear with no direct reason. Common signs are avoidance, panic attacks, nervousness, excessive worrying about health, and more.
Medication and mental health counseling are the best ways to combat anxiety, but an active, healthy social life also can help. Senior-safe exercise is a great way to provide an outlet for excess energy that leads to anxiety as well.
Medication Side Effects
When the body ages, medication is often needed to manage health. While these medications may be beneficial, they can also result in side effects that can impact mental health. Some medicines can cause depression, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, or other mental health decline.
Seniors must report any side effects to their doctor to ensure they’re treated. Sometimes, medications must be switched if side effects are severe enough to impact daily living.
Understanding Senior Mental Health Conditions
Seniors are particularly susceptible to mental health conditions due to their age and social circles. Senior veterans and nursing home abuse victims are prone to developing signs of trauma or PTSD. Loneliness and isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, or substance abuse disorders.
Aging bodies can decline, and that includes the brain; dementia is prevalent among senior citizens and can result in forgetfulness, memory loss, confusion, and personality changes.
Seniors should have an active social life, mental health counseling, and adequate healthcare checkups. Nursing homes should be thoroughly vetted for safety regarding abuse and neglect, including fall risks.