If you have elder members in your family, then here are a few mental illnesses that can happen to them. When you know about them, you can make better arrangement to manage these issues.
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List of mental health issues that senior members are affected –
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Eating Disorders
What do statistics say about Elderly Mental Health Assessment?
As per the WHO, mental disorders are seen to impact approx. 15% of the total population throughout the world who have attained the age of sixty. This problem increases with passing age.
The studies performed in the past have shown that:
- Anxiety disorders impact 3.8% of the total population of senior citizens.
- 20% of people who are 55 years old and older suffer from a specific type of mental health illness.
- Depression impacts about 5% of senior members. Around 13.5% of those people need home healthcare.
- Men who age 75 years are seen to have a high suicide rate as compared to other age groups.
Risk Factors in the Elderly Population
- Elderly people are likely to show psychological issues (CDC).
- The general physical and emotional stresses linked to aging can result in anxiety and depression.
What triggers mental ailments in senior citizens?
- Acute pain
- Acute disease
- Physical disabilities
- Physical impairments like adrenal disease, or a thyroid that impacts thought, memory, or emotion
- Loneliness
- Grief
- Widowhood
- Major life changes
- Specific medications
- Heavy consumption of alcohol
- Drug abuse
- Malnutrition or unhealthy diet
- Dementia-causing ailment
Symptoms of Mental Ailment in the Elderly
Memory loss, persistent anxiety, depression, and other cognitive issues are symptoms of serious mental health issues in elder people.
Here are a few signs to watch out for:
- Change in appetite, mood, and energy levels
- Feeling no emotions
- Difficulty in sleeping and staying asleep
- Persistent views of sadness, suicidal thoughts, and hopelessness,
- A need for alcohol, or drugs
- Feeling on restless, or having problems to concentrate
- Stress, and anxiety
- Short-term memory loss
- Anger, increased aggressiveness, and agitation
Conclusion
Mental illness is overlooked in various homes. This poses a challenge in its diagnosis, and effect that can diminish the health of the senior member. Quick management of these issues will prevent them from becoming complicated.
