Old age brings with it numerous challenges, be it constant visits to the doctor’s chamber, general loss of physical and mental strength, or a drastically changed social circle.
Being finicky while getting old is a widely accepted notion. This belief in society makes diagnosing mental health issues in the geriatric population very tricky. The most common geriatric mental health conditions are depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia.
Early Warning Signs
The trigger points for mental and neurological disorders in older patients are:
- Retirement — Retirement can bring a massive shift in a person’s life. People who have been working all their life may suddenly find themselves unproductive and lonely. This is why they are more likely to suffer from mental health disorders. Older men are more prone to it than women.
- Loss of financial independence — Retirement also leads to loss of financial freedom. This can cause curtailing of their usual expenses and, in some cases, dependence on others. This eventually leads to low self-esteem in them.
- Loss of traditional family values — In today’s fast-paced life, elderly people might often feel left out. Their children can get busy with their personal and professional lives and frequently ignore them and their needs. The elderly are not treated with the respect and support they long for.
Some of the risk factors and symptoms of mental illness to watch out for in the elderly are commonly confused with aging signs. These signs include:
- Unexplained Fatigue
- Memory loss
- Changes in appetite (eating too much or too less)
- Changes in sleep pattern (either sleeping too much or too less)
- Mood disorders
- Confusion and disorientation that hampers the decision-making ability of the person
- General disinterest in everyday activities and mood changes
Some of the common mental illnesses seen in the geriatric population are as follows:
Anxiety
Mental disorders that share features of excessive fear and related behavioral disturbances are collectively called anxiety disorders. Contrary to popular belief, anxiety is much more prevalent in older people than depression.
Anxiety is a state of constant and excessive worry about everyday events. This continuous worry produces a physical response in an older person, like unexplained dizziness, increased heart rate, and digestive issues.
Seniors tend to worry about their health, finances, and family, which is normal. But, when this worry cripples their day-to-day functioning, it’s a major red flag and shouldn’t be ignored.
Depression
The normal part of the aging process and depression usually present the same symptoms of a severe mental illness to the extent that depressive symptoms are often overlooked. Depression hurts your social, mental, and physical well-being and may trigger suicidal thoughts irrespective of age.
Depression presents itself as:
- Mood changes: Experiencing constant feelings of hopelessness and emptiness for more than two weeks is one of the significant red flags. If there is no reason for feeling so, then the chances are that it could be depression.
- Guilt-Ridden: Older people may sometimes feel guilty about being dependent and unproductive. They might blame themselves for their health issues and are unlikely to reach out to get primary care.
- Changes in daily habits: Sudden changes in daily routines are also important factors to understand if a person has depression. These include factors like sleeping too little or sleeping the whole day, eating too little, or overeating, which could be telltale signs of depression without any other health issues.
All these combined symptoms can make a person withdraw from their social support system. Furthermore, it can make it difficult for them to do their day-to-day functioning properly. This might push them toward depression and negative thoughts.
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Bipolar
It is a chronic mental disorder characterized by extremely high and low moods. Its prevalence is lesser than anxiety and depression but dangerous if left untreated.
Senior citizens may experience the manic phase where they sleep less, talk incessantly for long periods, and try to move very fast, leading to falls and injuries. The low degree of the disorder is like depression, where they are socially withdrawn, showing changes in eating and sleeping habits, and constantly feeling low.
When these episodes of high and low moods occur quickly, it takes a toll on health and triggers suicidal thoughts. An older person is more likely to get hospitalized in the manic phase and more functionally disabled during the low phase.
Substance Abuse
As we age, our bodies and minds become more sensitive to drugs and alcohol. With a range of prescription drugs at their disposal, the elderly person might start taking more painkillers or sleeping pills than required. These drugs might often worsen psychiatric disorders already present in older people.
Apart from drugs, alcohol has slowly emerged as a habitual offender. The elderly population may often indulge in excessive drinking and substance use disorders, despite knowing that alcohol harms their bodily functions. They would rather bear the brunt of health complications and deteriorate their quality of life than avoid these.
Some seniors also indulge in binge drinking, which is even more harmful because they are suddenly taking large amounts of alcohol. This can have a detrimental effect on their health.
Psychosis
When a person starts to misinterpret reality and starts having false beliefs, hallucinations, altered speech, and exhibiting irrational behavior, it is known as psychosis.
The elderly are at a greater risk of developing psychotic symptoms. This may be attributed to preexisting health conditions with behavioral disturbances, like Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis.
Also, another major cause is drug-drug interaction. Drug-drug interaction refers to the changes in the effect of one drug when consumed together with another drug. This can lead to an increase/ decrease in the impact of either or both drugs.
The multiple prescription drug cocktail might have unwanted side effects. Developing psychotic symptoms might be one of them. Elderly with psychosis often become aggressive and disruptive.
The elderly with psychosis are more likely to be admitted to mental health institutions for care and appropriate treatment, which might cause financial strain for the family. This results in abandonment and abuse of the elderly person.
Cognitive Dysfunction
Cognitive impairment is a dysfunction in the brain’s analytical functions. This includes memory, thinking, reasoning, and mental alertness. The causes of cognitive decline in the elderly may be multifactorial. Some of them are:
- Side effects of medicines: Medications given to the elderly are often detrimental to proper mental functioning and physical health. Tranquilizers and sedatives are usually administered for a variety of ailments for long periods, which slows down the brain in the process.
- Metabolism Disorder: Uneven levels of glucose and sodium-calcium in the blood may lead to metabolism disorders. This eventually affects the functioning of the brain.
- Damage to the Brain Neurons: Brain neurons are damaged due to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and vascular dysfunction like stroke. In some cases, it is also caused due to traumatic injury to the head.
- Toxins: Toxins are pollutants that accumulate over the years in the body. It accumulates due to exposure to contaminated drinking water, food, and heavy metals. These accumulated toxins over the years have had a detrimental effect on the brain’s functioning.
How to Prevent Psychological Issues Among Older Adults
The good news among all the gloomy statistics is that psychological issues are treatable and, most importantly, preventable in elderly people. Understanding and supporting your family members or elders can make old age a blessing for them rather than a curse.
Some steps that one can take to ensure better geriatric mental health are:
- Getting Busy: A senior’s most challenging phase of life is often settling into a new lifestyle after retirement. Instead of making this phase dull and unhappy, older people should be encouraged to keep themselves busy. It could be a new hobby, learning a new language, joining a new club, or a new business.
- Social Circle: Most mental health issues elders face are due to social withdrawal. Their families should take extra care, so they do not feel neglected or unproductive. Involving elders in daily family activities, asking about their opinion on a serious family issue, and giving them daily tasks. This ensures they feel wanted and part of the family.
Families should also try to get the elders and their friends together to avoid boredom and social isolation. - Exercising: To ensure a disease-free retirement life and to enjoy it to its fullest, the first step is to be taken at present. Exercising regularly and meditating not only provides good health at present but also in the future. It should be adopted as a lifestyle habit to avoid disease and a bucket full of medications later in life.
- Developing an empathetic approach: Families should realize that half of the issues the elderly face are due to boredom and loneliness. Most mental problems are preventable, apart from chronic diseases and physical aging. Treating the elders with respect and empathy and making them believe they are very much wanted and loved could be the best medication for them.
Seek Geriatric Therapy from a Trusted Provider with Docvita
Old age brings a lot of health problems, but you don’t have to continue to suffer from them silently. So, if you are a senior citizen suffering from such ailments, don’t hesitate to seek counseling. Hop on to DocVita’s book from the therapist page and book your first session with a trusted provider now.