Treating our seniors with decency and respect is a matter of common grace and manners. Unfortunately, instead of showing our seniors the respect and gratitude they deserve, many people are either too busy or ignore their contributions to their community and family.
Introduction
Seniors have a lot to teach us about adapting to change and dealing with misfortune in the life. Even if a senior's hearing or memory aren't what they once were, our elders have a wealth of knowledge to share. Older folks, those aged 60 and up, contribute significantly to society as family members, volunteers, and active members of the workforce. While the majority of older persons are in good mental health, they are at risk of having mental illnesses, neurological diseases, or substance abuse issues, as well as other health concerns including diabetes, hearing loss, and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, as people age, they are more likely to get various illnesses at the same time.
Risk factors for mental health problems among older adults
At every stage in one's life, there may be various risk factors for mental health issues. Stresses that impact everyone, as well as stressors that are more common in later life, such as a severe loss of skills and functional capacity, may affect older persons. For example, older people may have decreased mobility, chronic pain, frailty, or other health problems that demand long-term care. Furthermore, older people are more prone to experience situations such as bereavement or a drop in socioeconomic status as a result of retirement. All of these pressures might cause loneliness, psychological anguish or isolation.
Physical, verbal, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse, as well as abandonment, neglect, and a significant loss of dignity and respect, are all examples of elder abuse. According to current statistics, one out of every six elderly individuals is abused. Elder abuse can result in not only physical injuries but also serious and potentially long-term psychological effects such as depression and anxiety.
Some common mental illnesses in older adults are- depression, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia.
Warning signs of mental illness in older adults
Changes in mood or energy level
A change in your eating or sleeping habits
Removing yourself from the people and activities that you enjoy.
Feeling angry, forgetful, unusually confused, upset, scared or worried
Feeling numb or like nothing matters
Having unexplained aches and pains
Feeling sadness or hopelessness
Excessive smoking, drinking, or drug usage
Anger, irritability, or aggressiveness
Can't seem to get ideas and memories out of your head
Believing false information or hearing voices
Thinking of harming yourself or others
Treatment
Promoting Active and Healthy Aging can help improve the mental health of older people. For older individuals, mental health-specific health promotion entails developing living conditions and settings that promote well-being and enable them to live a healthy lifestyle. Promoting mental health is largely dependent on efforts that guarantee that older persons have the resources they require, such as:
providing security and freedom
providing adequate housing through supportive housing policies
giving older adults and their caregiver's social support
health and social programmes targeted at vulnerable groups such as those who live alone, in rural areas, or who suffer from a chronic or relapsing mental or physical illness
programs aimed at preventing and responding to elder abuse
community development programs
training for health professionals in providing care for the elderly
preventing and managing age-related chronic diseases, including mental, neurological, and drug use problems
building age-friendly services and locations
creating long-term and palliative care policies that are sustainable
Geriatric counselling is a method of assisting older persons in coping with the challenges they may face as they transition from middle to later life. Geriatric psychologists assist seniors in dealing with change, stress, death, memory issues, and anxiety in a healthy manner. Geriatric psychologists can help persons who are suffering from chronic pain, heart disease, diabetes, or strokes with their emotional problems
Because many older persons with depression are hesitant to accept antidepressant medication or are unable to bear its negative effects, CBT can be utilized to treat depression in this population
Conclusion
Seniors have a variety of life experiences to share with us, including how to adjust to change and deal with life's challenges. They have a wealth of experience and expertise to impart to us because of loneliness, grief, neglect, financial challenges, and other factors, they may develop a variety of mental and physical health problems as they grow older. Mood changes, eating and sleeping patterns, smoking, rage, and suicidal thoughts are some of the indicators of mental illness in older persons. Promoting Active and Healthy Aging can help improve the mental health of older people.
References
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