RetirementHomes.com - mental health

How to Identify Depression in the Elderly

aadmin — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:15:24 +0000

The National Institute for Mental Health and the National Alliance on Mental Illness recently released statements addressing the issue of depression in elderly Americans. They point to a common misconception that the common symptoms of depression are just signs of aging, leading to millions of older citizens to suffer in silence. The elderly face a unique set of conditions that drive depressive thoughts. The death of their spouse, long periods of inactivity, and limitations on personal freedom or mobility rank as the most common issues elderly patients cite as the reason for their depression. Coupled with health and financial anxieties, many elderly Americans and Canadians feel hopeless and utterly alone.

Symptoms

Though there are significant changes to the mind during the aging process, there are clear cut warning signs that you or your loved one may have depression.

Pain Without A Physical Cause. Joint and muscle pain are part of growing older; however, there is a strong link between physical pain and chronic or major depression. The mind refers mental pain to the body, and it’s impossible to find a physical cause for the discomfort. Unfortunately, as the pain intensifies, the patient’s depression deepens. If you or your loved one has unexplained pain, schedule a visit with a mental health professional, as well as a doctor, to uncover the root cause.

Energy Loss. People at 70 don’t have the same energy level that they did at 20, and the loss of energy is natural. Where it becomes a problem is when the lack of energy leads to oversleeping, long naps in the middle of the day or the inability to motivate oneself to participate in activities once enjoyed. Again, this symptom creates a destructive cycle, where the person doesn’t have the energy to socialize, which leads to feelings of isolation, causing further depression.

The image of the cranky old man or woman is a popular one in American culture, often played as joke. The reality is that irritability is often a symptom of depression. The suffering feels sad, anxious or hurt, and they don’t know how to resolve their issues, so they lash out at the people around them. Irritability can also be a reflection of insomnia or poor sleeping patterns. Constant anxiety and pain may make sleep difficult, leading to bad moods during waking hours.

Neglected Personal Care. Once depression sets in, sufferers begin to neglect their personal care. This includes everything from taking a shower and washing their clothes, to eating regular meals. In a deep depression the sufferer doesn’t see a reason to keep going, and they start to see themselves as valueless, so taking care of themselves is no longer a priority.

Suicidal Thoughts? Suicide rates for the elderly are rising, and people over the age of 80 are the second most likely to commit suicide in the United States. It's currently estimated that people over 65 now account for close to 20 percent of all suicides. The actual rate may be even higher than reported, because deaths labeled accidental by coroners, such as overdoses, may have been intentional. Any talk of suicide or losing the will to live should be seen as a cry for help, and never ignored.

Depression in the elderly is a serious medical concern, especially as the population ages. Talk to your loved ones about their mental state, look for outward symptoms of depression, and stay engaged in their lives. Doing so will help alleviate the underlying causes of their depression, and make their final years as rich as their first.

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Health and Wellness

Mental Health

A look at mental illness in the elderly

aadmin — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:13:34 +0000

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, and mental health advocacy groups across North America are using this month as an opportunity to educate and inform the general public about the widespread reality of mental illness.

And although mental illness does not discriminate by age, race, sex or income bracket, it does disproportionally affect seniors and the elderly more than other age groups. About 20 per cent of people aged 65 and older suffer from some kind of mental illness, according to data from the American Psychological Association.

Although the numbers are dramatic, mental illness is not a monolith. Rather, mental illness can take multiple forms, from Alzheimer’s Disease to depression, as well as a wide variety of types of dementia.

Here is a quick guide to the most prominent forms of mental illness among seniors:

Alzheimer’s Disease: With about five million sufferers in the United States, Alzheimer’s is also the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. The disease degenerates brain cells, and causes sufferers to become unable to perform simple daily tasks, and eventually it can be fatal. Alzheimer’s is strongly correlated to age, with about 95% of Americans with the disease are aged 65 and older.

Depression: As with Alzheimer’s Disease, depression affects people of all ages, but seniors and the elderly suffer disproportionally, and the risk for depression rises with advanced age. Suicide rates, which serves as a common yardstick for depression levels, is about twice the rate in the United States for people aged 75 and older, compared to younger Americans.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): Advanced age can typically be expected to affect certain changes in the human body – vision problems and slower movement, for example – some cognitive decline is also not unusual, and may not be anything to worry about. However, more advanced signs, such as consistent forgetfulness, may be a sign of MCI, which is not technically a form of dementia, but is still a condition that can cause difficulty and hardship among sufferers.

There are many other forms of mental illness and dementia where seniors face suffering, but according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the most important steps caregivers and family members of seniors – as well as older people themselves – are preventative. Although some diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, are not currently not known to be themselves preventable, physical and mental exercise, as well as regular medical checkups and seeking immediate medical attention at the sight of anything unusual, will be the best measures older people and their loved ones can take.

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New study says video games make seniors happier

aadmin — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:15:54 +0000

For most of North America, springtime is approaching, and soon after that, the warm weather of summer will arrive. And although many studies have shown the health benefits of exercise for seniors, a new research report has found one of the best ways for seniors to stay happy is by staying indoors and playing video games.

As reported by United Press International, researchers from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, found seniors who played video games, even occasionally, were more likely than their peers to have high levels of emotional satisfaction.

Additionally, seniors who did not report that they play video games were more likely to have higher levels of depression than their peers. The researchers polled people aged 63 and older in their study.

The study, which was published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, found nearly all seniors played video games sometimes: 61 per cent played occasionally, while 35 per cent played at least once per week.

“The research published here suggested there a link between gaming and better well-being and emotional functioning,” lead researcher Jason Allaire said in a statement, while adding that more detailed surveys will be needed to determine the extent of the impact of video games on seniors.

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Pessimistic people live longer: Study

aadmin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:52:50 +0000

We’ve heard it many times before: people with optimistic outlooks on life tend to outlive their gloomy and negative peers. But a new study out of Germany has come to an opposite conclusion: that pessimistic people have longer life expectancies than previously expected, and people with glum views actually live longer than those who are optimistic.

As reported by Yahoo! News, the study, which was published in the journal Psychology and Aging, found that pessimistic people were at lower risks for both disability and early death, and researchers attributed the findings to pessimistic people tending to be more careful in their daily lives, hence lowering their risks.

“Pessimism about the future may encourage people to live more carefully, taking health and safety precautions,” lead researcher Frieder Lang was quoted as saying.

The study’s researchers interviewed seniors aged 65 and older in Germany, and when asked how they expect their lives will be in five years’ time, 43 per cent of respondents underestimated their future, 32 per cent overestimated their future, and only 25 per cent were able to accurately forecast what their future would look like.

Are you a generally optimistic or pessimistic person? Do you agree with the study’s researchers that being pessimistic is more likely to keep you from living in a nursing care or Alzheimer’s Care facility? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below:

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