Signs of Mental Health Issues among Elderly

What is Mental Health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) conceptualizes mental health as a "state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community." Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders.

Mental illness or mental health disorders, on the other hand, refers to the health conditions that negatively affect the way we think, feel, behave and interact with others. A poor mental health can lead to mental illness. Some of the most common mental illnesses in the elderly include dementia, depression, anxiety disorders and severe cognitive impairment among others.

Key Facts

●By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over.

●Loneliness and social isolation are key risk factors for mental health conditions in later life.

●One in six older adults experience abuse, often by their own carers.

●Approximately 14% of adults aged 60 and over live with a mental disorder.

●Mental disorders among older adults account for 10.6% of the total years lived with disability for this age group.

Risk factors for Mental Health Issues

Older adults experience the same stresses as anyone else, but they also experience issues like decline of body functions and loss of capacities due to ageing. Examples include chronic pain, loss of mobility, etc.

Below listed are few factors which contribute:

● Loss of mobility -elderly people cannot move fast due to loss of muscles and strength in their limbs.

● Chronic pain - health conditions like arthritis, sciatica etc. cause chronic pain in older adults.

● Change in socio-economic status - older adults' financial resources are limited post-retirement, and this means that they may not get healthy food or good housing.

● Malnutrition or poor diet - loss of appetite or not having access to nutritious foods can cause malnutrition in seniors.

● Abuse and abandonment–seniors may suffer physical, financial, or psychological abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

● Bereavement - losing loved ones may cause depression in elders.

Assessing Mental Health in the Elderly

Evaluating elderly mental health can be challenging as they mainly report physical symptoms, but not psychological ones. Many older adults are unable to recognise their mental health problems. Therefore, it is important for family members to seek advice from a doctor in case their elders are experiencing mental health issues.

Assessment of the following areas will help you determine the mental health condition of your loved ones and enable you to decide whether a consultation with the doctor is needed.

● Their capability to do routine daily tasks, like using the phone, cooking, or getting dressed

● Ability to drive

● Their financial security

● Are they skipping medicines?

● Are they experiencing side-effects of medication?

● Extent of loss of appetite

● Level of pain and discomfort

● Frequency of hospitalisation

Besides assessing the above areas, memory screening and neuropsychological assessments can help identify old age mental problems. The mental health specialists can conduct the screening tests and determine whether the forgetfulness and other symptoms are a result of normal aging or due to mental health problems.

Common Symptoms of Mental Illness among Seniors

Family members should keep an eye on the senior members of their family to determine if they need help with a mental health issue. Ageing can cause changes such as slowing down of the body, frailty, sporadic forgetfulness, etc. However, persistent problems can indicate elderly mental health issues.

Here is what you should look out for:

● Changes in sleep patterns, fatigue for no reason, loss of energy

● Issues with decision-making or concentration, being disoriented or confused

● Suicidal thoughts, guilty feelings, feeling helpless or worthless

● Sudden, drastic weight changes, reduced or enhanced appetite

● Unexplainable aches, change in bowel movements (such as constipation)

● Always being depressed

● Short-term memory loss

● Financial problems or trouble working with numbers

● Lack of interest in anything they enjoyed previously, staying aloof

● Inability to maintain the home or garden

● Unable to dress properly

If you notice any elderly family member showing any of these symptoms, take them to consult a doctor for further advice.

Tips to Prevent Mental Illness in Elderly

You can help to prevent mental health illness in senior members of your family. Here’s what to do:

● Provide resources that satisfy their requirements. They can be gardens, balconies or religious sites.

● Ensure their safety. When elderly people feel loved and cared, they feel a sense of security too.

● Engage them with grandchildren, spend quality time with them, involve them in making decisions to make them feel that their opinions matter.

● Encourage them to openly convey their needs and concerns. Help them to participate in recreational activities.

● Understand their problems and feelings, and make sure that you actively listen to them so that they can fully express themselves.

● Encourage them to maintain balanced diet, exercise, and also take them for regular health check-ups.