Richard BitnerElderly Mental Health: The Forgotten Half of Senior Care
When people think and talk about senior care, they usually focus on physical support services. Care is typically framed as assistance for seniors with frailty, disability, or mobility concerns. But physical assistance is only half of the equation to quality senior care. Caring for seniors’ mental and emotional health is often just as, or even more, important than physical care and support. Elderly Mental Health: The Forgotten Half of Senior Care That has been underscored by a recent study out of Munich, Germany. Researchers found that a person’s psychological health had a far bigger impact on how they rated their own
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Carol MarakWhy Mental Health is Important
The aging population rapidly increases and between 2015 and 2050, the number of older adults will double from about 12% to 22%. This is an expected increase from 900 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60. Older people face special physical and mental health challenges which need attention. The World Health Organization says over 20% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder, excluding headache disorders, and 6.6% of all disability attributes to mental and neurological disorders. The most common mental and neurological disorders in this age group are dementia and depression,
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Kendall VanBlarcomSocial Distancing and Mental Health
If you have not been spending time with friends and family, you may be wondering about the relationship between social distancing and mental health. It is normal to feel frightened and anxious when there is a lack of control. The important thing is to connect with others in new ways and be aware of possible mental health issues, such as depression and substance abuse. When you are feeling frustrated and are not sure where to turn, connect with a counselor to talk through your feelings. As difficult as it can be, some of the best practices include eating well, getting
Continue readingMental Health Resources
Depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses carry deeply rooted stigma forcing people with a mental health challenge to suffer in silence. Stigma, a sensation that something is shameful. Mental Health Resources A 2014 study by the NIH (National Institute of Health) found significant differences between the stigma about seeking help for mental conditions felt by those in isolated rural areas compared to urban dwellers. Older rural residents with mental illness associate seeking help with a sign of weakness or an inability to be self-reliant. The Centers for Disease Control says depression is a true and treatable medical condition, not a normal
Continue readingControlling Confusion in Older Adults
There are many who find themselves getting in family arguments about controlling confusion in older adults. This is because it is common for family members and their caregivers to notice changes in behavior, and cognitive abilities, over time. When these shifts happen unexpectedly, a family caregiver might view the behavior as irrational or paranoid. But, for the senior experiencing the confusion, it is very real. A change in your loved one’s behavior could be due to an undiagnosed cognitive impairment. Sometimes these manifest themselves as fears and worries. Or there may be complaints and confusion. In more extreme cases, shifts
Continue readingAttitudes to Enhance Aging
What is your mindset about growing older? Do you want to avoid thinking about it for as long as possible? Is it a negative passage to be endured? To set an ideal mid-life into motion, you need a positive outlook. A study of 660 adults aged 50 and older in Ohio, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that people who had positive attitudes about aging lived more than seven years longer than those with negative attitudes. While the results remain unproven by other researchers, the study does link positive outlook and good health. For example, depression
Continue readingElderly Mental Health Statistics
Like every population, there is a lot of variety among older adults. But it can be helpful to talk about elderly mental health statistics so we know when to take notice. Because while many have good mental health, others are vulnerable to mental health issues and cognitive deterioration. A Growing Population The world population is aging. It is estimated about 8.5 percent of people worldwide are aged 65 and over and this percentage is expected to rise to nearly 17 percent of the world’s population by 2050. It is common for mental health issues to be ignored or misdiagnosed by
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Kathy MacaraegHandling the Emotional Side of Caregiving
Most caregivers step up to the plate because they love their caree. Sometimes, the process of becoming a caregiver is slow as a parent begins the aging process and other times it happens quickly due to a fall or illness. One thing that many caregivers don’t anticipate is the many emotions they will experience as a caregiver. While love enables us to do many hard things, sometimes, love isn’t enough – particularly if you are a caregiver for an extended period. While you love your caree, being a caregiver takes a lot out of you and putting your needs on
Continue readingSigns of Anger Issues
If you are experienced as a caregiver for older adults, it is possible you have seen signs of anger issues. For some, anger outburst happen because a senior citizen is feeling vulnerable, which can magnify emotions and reactions. In separate cases, anger occurs in response to other problems, whether that is illness, pain, or memory loss. When you see signs of anger issues in an individual you are caring for—whether those indicators are physical abuse, verbal abuse or periods of paranoia—talk through your experiences with a professional to find relief. Coping with Physical and Verbal Abuse If you are caring
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