Facing The Challenge Of Mental Health As A Senior

Although the saying “age is just a number” is common, aging is something that cannot be taken for granted. It’s a natural transition process that has an impact on both our physical and mental health, leading to a range of psychosocial ailments.

As per the pre covid national survey, more than 14% of adults above 50 years are suffering from mental, behavioural and emotional disorders that have led to deteriorating lifestyles and the percentage has increased post the pandemic too.

Favorably, thanks to the advancement in medical science that there are effective treatments available paired with the health providers offering services like Elderly care in Dunedin, Florida and other parts of the USA.

However, there are a number of difficulties that the elderly face as they age and need the physical and emotional help of family and friends to make the job of health care professionals simple.

Attached stigma to the disease

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions concerning mental health problems, and outside of society, even friends and family wind up forming stereotypes about them, which causes a number of problems for the patient.

For older persons, a mental disorder’s identification and medication are far more difficult to manage. Many times, indicators of mental health problems, such as sadness or memory loss, are written off as “natural” signs of aging. However, these presumptions keep seniors from getting the treatment they require.

Memory loss

More than half of all Americans over 65 suffer from memory loss or confusion, due to age-related conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. A recent study shows that these conditions can severely affect the quality of life of families caring for elderly people with dementia.

Aged has a difficult time remembering things because the brain does not grow as well as it used to. This is known as cognitive decline. This cognitive decline can cause great stress and this stress can result in depression, social isolation, and physical health issues.

Bipolar disorder

When they may be physically, cognitively, or both ill, elderly persons with bipolar disorder frequently endure a lot of pressure. They also struggle with issues including poor coordination and difficulty concentrating.

In comparison to the overall population, they are also more likely to experience sadness and the feeling of being left alone. People with bipolar disorder consequently frequently struggle to maintain their mobility in their own houses.

Depression and Anxiety

As the older population continues to grow, so does the number of elderly people suffering from depression. One reason behind this is that these individuals face a variety of health issues, such as dementia and cardiovascular diseases.

They also experience bullying from family members and isolation from the community. In addition, seniors may have other medical problems or poor mental health or both. This can make them feel helpless and overwhelmed.

The cause of this is not just physical, but also psychological – the correlation between depression, anxiety and aging has been studied for years through many studies.