Today, mental illness is soaring among older adults. Cognitive impairment includes dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Currently close to 5 million adults over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s Disease.
Most often however, many seniors suffer from depression. Currently in the senior population close to 80% who suffer go undiagnosed.
As a senior begins to lose their faculties, loved ones around them, and their world begins to change, anxiety is a common reaction which causes emotional stress. Anxiety disorders encompass a range of issues, from obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding behaviors to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Specialization
Geriatric Mental Health Professionals can usually be found through referral from a doctor, and seeking one out, if referred, can be covered by Medicare. There are several triggers that cause the escalation of mental illness:
- Physical disability
- Long-term illness (e.g., heart disease or cancer
- Dementia-causing illness (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease)
- Physical illnesses that can affect thought, memory, and emotion (e.g. thyroid or adrenal disease)
- Change of environment, like moving into assisted living
- Illness or loss of a loved one
- Medication interactions
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Poor diet or malnutrition
Preparation
Seek out a mental professional if you notice a consistency in the below:
- Sad or depressed mood lasting longer than two weeks
- Social withdrawal; loss of interest in things that used to be enjoyable
- Unexplained fatigue, energy loss, or sleep changes
- Confusion, disorientation, problems with concentration or decision-making
- Increase or decrease in appetite; changes in weight
- Memory loss, especially recent or short-term memory problems
- Feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt, helplessness; thoughts of suicide
- Physical problems that can’t otherwise be explained: aches, constipation, etc.
- Changes in appearance or dress, or problems maintaining the home or yard
- Trouble handling finances or working with numbers
Make sure to seek out a mental health professional who understands and specializes in geriatrics.
Evaluation
Professionals who specialize in Mental Health specialize in the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging.
Gerontologist
Mental Health Professionals who are Gerontologists have a masters or doctoral degree in gerontology and/or psychology and can provide in-home counseling services to older adults. There are also support groups for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurologist
A physician specializing in diseases of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and stroke. A neurologist has a doctorate in medicine and has completed a residency in neurology. Neurologists may or may not have specific experience and training in diseases of the older population.
If your loved one is adjusting to Assisted Living or a major change in their lives, seek out guidance through care conferences with the healthcare professionals on staff. They can help you find the best solution to help the change go easier.
Mental Health Radio Show Segments
- Daphne Davis’s Wellness Formula: Body, Mind, Spirit
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements discusses aspects of physical health and wellness. This segment focuses on integrating these aspects of body, mind and spirit: having the courage to have conversations, to talk to someone, about having a life of living, vs. one of just surviving.
- Daphne Davis’s Wellness Formula: The Spirit
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements discusses aspects of physical health and wellness: the body, mind and spirit. This segment focuses on our spirit, which covers your happiness level, your spirituality grounding and core that keeps you centered. These are the things that give you a sense of joy, peace, satisfaction, contentment, happiness.
- Daphne Davis’s Wellness Formula: The Mind
Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements discusses aspects of your physical health and wellness: the body, mind and spirit. This segment focuses on our mind, various aspects of mental health.
- Daphne Davis’s Wellness Formula: The Body
Valentine’s Day is about connections, acknowledging those you love and appreciate, as well as taking time for yourself. Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements discusses aspects of your physical health and wellness: the body, mind and spirit. As we age, there are definitely changes in our body, our machinery. It is a machine and it does need to have some tweaking, some oil changes and tune-ups. Don’t be afraid to do those things to keep our bodies at optimum efficiency. Keep in mind nutrition, medication and hydration.
- Parkinson’s Path: Depression, with Lianna Marie
Lianna Marie talks about depression as it pertains to Parkinson’s. Research today shows that it is a symptom rather a response to the illness. Up to 50% of people with Parkinson’s are suffering from clinical depression, from the chemical imbalances triggered by the disease.
- Maintaining the Highest Quality of Life with Daphne Davis
Rather than being an ostrich, or compromising your family’s quality of life, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements suggests a new perspective: consider that if your parents were to move somewhere else, they would have a next chapter in their lives, and our goal is for it to be highest quality. Gather information, have the courage, and start the conversations. There’s so much resistance.
- Life Balance with Ken Farmer
Ken Farmer at Careage discusses maintaining a healthy life balance. Always take stock: Are you ignoring any of these key elements of your life?
