Mental Health of Older Adults: Guide for Caregivers and Family
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to bring the mental wellbeing of older adults into the conversation of mental health. With aging, a lot of changes happen to an individual, so it is important to be aware of what could be happening and how you can make it easier for your loved ones or someone you are caring for.
Managing psychological disorders in older adults can feel challenging, but with right strategies you can support them. This guide includes do-able tips and changes that you can do to maintain mental health or prevent a crisis.
Mental Health Disorders and Warning Signs
Mental health and cognitive health are often seen as the same, but they affect an individual and their life differently. It is important to know the difference before you support or care for someone with either difficulties or disorders.
Cognitive disorders like Alzheimer's, dementia, or attention deficit disorders affect thinking, memory, and learning abilities. Psychological disorders affect emotions, moods, and behavior and they can show up as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and insomnia.
Depression
It is easy to overlook since a lot of symptoms can seem like signs of aging which is why it is important to know the signs of persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, change in appetite. If you see these signs over a prolonged period of time, don't ignore them, depression is common among seniors, but it is not a normal part of aging.
Anxiety Disorders
They could be worried about the physical changes of aging, financial stress, or side effects of medication. If you see signs of excessive fear or worry about everyday situations that start interfering with daily life and activities it could be signs of anxiety.
Bipolar disorders
Also known as geriatric bipolar or late‐onset bipolar illness (LOBI), there are symptoms of mood swings that could be manic episodes followed by depression, impulsivity, and other cognitive symptoms like memory issues and lag in executive functions.
Schizophrenia
Some common symptoms are difficulty thinking clearly, managing emotions, and connecting with reality but they can be easily confused with Alzheimer's symptoms. There is a growing population that will be aging 55 years or older and living with schizophrenia who need to be cared for.
PTSD or trauma related disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder develops when someone has been through or witnessed a traumatic event that could include wartime experiences, natural disasters, or personal loss. The common symptoms could be flashbacks of the traumatic event, emotional numbness, social withdrawal, and physically as muscle tension.
Loneliness-induced disorders
Social isolation is unfortunately common among older adults, and it can lead to anxiety disorders, depression, dementia. It can show up physically in high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity if they don't exercise, smoke, drink, or sleep poorly.
How To Make Aging Well Possible?
Aging does not have to be as daunting as it seems. There are a lot of changes that your loved ones who are aging can be difficult for them to navigate or understand and if they are also dealing with mental health issues, it adds more layers. Here are some ways, you as a caregiver or family member, can help maintain their mental health so that they age well.
Engaging Activities for the Mind and Social Interactions
Finding an activity that they were interested in or have always wanted to try can
increase cortisol level,
mental stimulation, and
research has shown it to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Joining activity clubs can make it more fun, create a routine, and bring social interactions in their daily life.
If you live close to your loved ones, you can plan monthly family game or activities nights for everyone to spend time with them.
Dealing With Mood Swings or Paranoia
When your senior loved ones are dealing with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or PTSD, you need to learn how to manage when symptoms like mood swings, agitations, sundowning, or paranoia show up.
Reduce agitation by creating a soothing environment. If they do have an episode, validate their feelings, give them space, but provide reassurance that you are there for them. To help calm them down use distraction techniques.
If they are paranoid or fear something, talk to them, acknowledge their feelings, and offer comfort.
During hallucinations, don't arguing or say that it is not real.
Phrasing your questions to avoid decision confusion and putting them in charge, can help having better conversations. So instead of telling them or suggesting something they could do or should do, you can put it in a question with easy to pick options.
Aging in Place
If your loved ones are developing mental health disorders as they are aging, it is a lot of changes already. The house and community they have built to call home makes them feel safer.
Consistency and familiarity in their environment support cognition, emotional wellbeing, and reinforce independence. Find more benefits of aging in place.
Use resources that make it easier to age in place like telehealth services or home health care programs for them and the family.
Safety Proof Home for Older Adults
A common hesitation for aging in place is the safety of the house and providing care. It can be more when your loved ones have mental health or cognitive disorders. You can deal with it through some steps so that a safe home environment is set up:
Install Bathroom Safety, entry and mobility support, and accessibility tools to make it safe and easy for them to move around the house.
Use smart home technology like voice assistant devices, smart thermostats, doorbell cameras to automate tasks around the house
Programs like Older Adults Home Modification Program allow low-income seniors to make these safety modifications possible at zero cost.
Joining Support Groups or Community Organizations
Humans are social species, not matter the age. Disorders induced by social isolation can be easy to be overlooked as a sign of aging. If there is a lack of social interactions, having your loved ones sign up for support groups, community activities or non-profit organizations that can create opportunities to find people and interactions.
If they are dealing with PTSD, support groups can provide a safe space for them to share their feelings and make them understand that they are not alone and they do not have to deal with alone.
Getting them involved in community specially for causes that matter to them, can bring a sense of purpose and joy. It can help create a routine and a social group for them to be a part of.
If they are on Medicaid, mental health services are often covered, and it also gives you access to wellness programs, support groups and other resources for the family and caregivers.
Physical Health Effect on Mental Health
An underestimated factor that affects mental health is the physical health, diet, and lifestyle. Simple but consistent changes can uplift and make a positive impact on mental health:
Monitor sugar and caffeine intake, especially in the afternoon
Keeping in check the use of alcohol or smoking
Joining a walking or exercising club
Consult a Mental Health Professional
While the boomer generation has grown up with stigma around mental health professionals, you can have conversations around it and try to open them up to the idea. Work with their primary care provider if you can, to get them the support and resources that can help your loved ones maintain their mental health.
Educate and Show Up with Empathy
Caring for someone can have its challenges and it can be difficult to empathize when they do not have physical or visible symptoms or difficulties. So, it is important to take the time to understand what your loved one's mental health. If there are some symptoms that show up socially, don't hesitate to educate your family members or friends about them so that they know what to expect and what they can do.
