Mental health issues accompany ageing for a good proportion of old adults. Depression has high collateral damage to health such as cardiovascular diseases.
Several life events may disturb mental health in older people, and hence, it is important to pay attention to any changes in one’s mood and also bear in mind that help may be sought if needed.
Depression
Depression is not only a normal feeling that someone has when they’re older. It is a real disease that can be prevented by changing one’s way of living as well as having psychotherapy (chat sessions) and taking medications. In fatal cases of depressive symptoms, older patients must be aware of all the symptoms and contact the specialist, as there is a risk of receiving the wrong diagnosis due to the symptoms being similar to other diseases which counter the need for medication. In addition, many people are afraid of seeking help for any mental disorder, or feel shame about treating a mental disorder with pills that may worsen the diagnosis.
There are symptoms that combine depression in older individuals and their apparent display of social withdrawal that rest a step of defining the latter. Most often these are viewed from the lens of ‘ aging’ primarily in disregard to seeking medical assistance that rest the chances of recovery from this condition to a narrower side. Should you apprehend your elder parent to have developed depression, it is helpful to empathize with him/her and talk to them in an encouraging way that can push them to go see a doctor so that the condition doesn’t aggravate. After all, the chances of recovery are normally good. Talking to a doctor early will almost always help.
Anxiety
A pervasive mental health disorder among a lot of aged individuals but goes undiagnosed or treated is anxiety. It will deplete once a person develops grief over the loss of a loved one, chronic anxiety, depression and in parts lifestyle changes. It is normal for caregivers to become anxious especially if they are unable to let their caretaker rest. However, if anxiety starts to interfere in one’s daily activities it becomes problematic. If this has happened, it is time to seek help. There are plenty of treatments for anxiety, some include medication, therapy which includes CBT as well as experimental relaxation therapy.
As it is with depression, anxiety needs to be diagnosed and treated in its early stages. However, a number of clinical facts indicate that many elderly patients tend to be withdrawn and even mute about depressive symptoms. They might be accustomed to a sensation of worry and tension as something perfectly normal and thus do not consult their doctors about it. There are those who do not want to speak with their physicians because they do not expect any help from them, while others are sure that their conditions are due to their medical diseases or due to the side effects of their prescribed medications.
Grief
The experience of losing a loved one due to death is not only singular and may happen across various ages. Life can be rife with loss: the loss of a partner, declining health, or even losing a pet, expectations of sadness can vary considerably, especially among geriatric people who seem to have an adjustment and overbearing life of bereavement.
Both anxiety and depression are one factor contributing to the development of a grief, while it is expected that such feelings would come and eventually pass, if these feelings become more severe in detail or persist for an unreasonably long time, it would be prudent to receive professional help which may include mental healthcare providers.
Grief therapies aim at providing the patient and their caregivers with a comfortable setting where a wide range of feelings can be articulated, assistance can be extended and functional skills to cope with the loss situation can be learnt. It helps in tackling the feelings of social loneliness, despair and even the chances of substance abuse. Grief therapy may also point to possible changes in sleep and appetite or side effects of medications as possible symptoms that require intervention or changes in sleep and appetite patterns and even side effects caused by medication. Furthermore, psychotherapy may help in emphasizing the importance of adequately defining their grief so that such a burden does not continue negatively affecting their mental wellbeing.
Bereavement
Grief is an unavoidable aspect when aging, but the consequences it brings upon one’s health are drastic and include loss or gain in appetite, sleeplessness, and body aches. In addition, grief may also affect certain intellectual capabilities such as one’s ability to think or remember certain events or make critical decisions, thereby exacerbating the decline of such functions even further.
Always be aware of how grief affects your mental health and the ability to operate normally and speak with an invisible voice when it becomes essential. Because they believe in their friends and family or have been members of the bereavement organization, their assistance is useful; it is also ideal to prepare for events such as festivals, birthdays and anniversaries in advance, as they can serve as reminders of the deceased that are difficult to bear.
Grief is always a particularly tough aspect for most of the caregivers, as it negatively impacts both their mental and emotional frame – hence in such instances It is necessary for them to reach out for help and relax a bit. Anti-psychotic medications may also have some adverse consequences on the patients, for them it is wise to talk to their doctor regarding any issues – this can be even more important if the patient has been diagnosed with long-term affliction like dementia or parkinson’s disease.
Completion of Life of a Relative
One of the toughest experiences that a person has in his life is closing the chapter of someone who was dear to him or her in his life and the pain that can be felt has a far deeper effect on a person’s mental well as his physical state. Losing a partner or a loved one can take a toll on an individual’s mental health and its even worse for primary care givers like spouses or parents.
First world countries are already battling elderly care by introducing advanced simulation models, but implementing such strategies will take time. While older adults are going through depression, I believe the ability to combat solitude will be a vital factor. Nonetheless, we want to help widespread loneliness.
Lastly, there is a whole list of effective strategies that older adults can take, that will stimulate a positive outlook on things, even the aging side. They can include ensuring that healthy and sufficient nutrition on a daily basis or maintaining a consistent sleep routine of a set amount of hours or keeping themselves active through stimulating physical or mental activities.
Also, the elderly must realize that depression is not a necessary concomitant of aging and that there are ways of treatment to ease their distress. If they require assistance in seeking help they may seek support such as a mental health phone line.
