Mental Health Concerns For Seniors
A person’s mental health encompasses everything about how they feel and think and significantly impacts overall health and wellness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 14 percent of adults 60 and older live with a mental health condition, accounting for 10.6 percent of overall disabilities among older adults.
While there’s been a lot of progress in recent years with destigmatizing mental health concerns, recognizing and treating conditions among older adults is still a challenge. There’s an unfortunate level of negative thinking around mental health still, but understanding the prevalence of certain conditions may help reduce this and encourage more individuals to seek help.
Common Mental Health Concerns Among Seniors
There are thousands of mental health concerns, many of which don’t discriminate against age. A person can develop a mental health condition at any age, although a few of the most common, especially around older adults, are anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a general term to describe various conditions that make an individual feel uncontrollable uneasiness or dread. Sometimes, a person can identify the cause or trigger of their anxiety, but often, with generalized anxiety disorders, there may not be a direct cause for the feeling.
Anxiety and anxiety disorders may cause physical symptoms, such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or body aches. Amid anxiety, it might feel like nothing can help, but there are treatments to help manage anxiety symptoms, such as medications and therapy.
Depression
Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects how a person goes about daily activities. Depression is more than feeling sad. It significantly affects how someone interacts with the world. Like anxiety, depression can come with physical symptoms like fatigue, irritability, trouble concentrating, and a loss of interest in things.
Depression is one of the most common mental health concerns among seniors, often stemming from social isolation. Additional risk factors for depression among older adults include having a chronic medical condition, lack of physical activity, physical limitations, and stress. Depression is treatable with many of the same medications and therapy tactics used to help those with anxiety.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are often viewed as a young person’s condition, but they can affect people at any age. Eating disorders are also often misunderstood because some view them as a lifestyle choice when, in reality, they stem from poor mental health.
An eating disorder is any condition that disrupts a person’s eating behaviors. Many eating disorders come with strong emotions, attitudes, and thoughts about food. In older adults, physical challenges such as trouble chewing or an inability to prep and cook meals can lead to avoidant behavior. They may feel it’s easier not to eat than confront the physical obstacles that arise during meal times.
Mental Health Triggers Among Older Adults
Some people experience mental health challenges throughout their lives. However, others can live through their early to mid-adulthood without experiencing any mental health concerns until later in life.
The later stages of life can come with some serious life changes that may trigger mental health concerns. A few common triggers or changes include:
- Transitioning into retirement
- The loss of a spouse or loved one
- Social isolation
- Getting diagnosed with a chronic health condition
Experiencing one of these events doesn’t automatically mean someone will develop a mental health condition, but having to navigate these changes may spark things like anxiety and depression.
At-Home Caregiving With Visiting Angels
Living with a mental health condition can add an extra layer on taking care of yourself. If you or an aging loved one needs help with nonmedical tasks at home, the team at Visiting Angels can help.
Our compassionate caregivers assist with light housekeeping, cooking, grocery shopping, medication reminders, and personal grooming. They also make wonderful companions and happily spend time with clients, going for walks, reading, cooking, crafting, and more.
Contact our Foley, Alabama office today to learn more about our at-home care services and how we can work with you or an aging loved one.