How Aging Affects the Mental Health of Seniors

How Aging Affects the Mental Health of Seniors

Growing older is a natural process that can present challenges for some seniors and their loved ones. While some look forward to their “golden years,” others may find it difficult to adjust. Every adult may experience health issues and stress as they age, both physical and mental. For those who struggle with mental problems due to aging, having the support of a mental health professional or therapist can make this transitional part of life more manageable.

Those who look forward to this stage of life eagerly anticipate retirement, time with grandchildren, finding new hobbies, and other advantages offered by the amount of time they now have available. Others, however, may be filled with dread about the physical and mental effects of aging. For these seniors, facing new mobility or medical issues, what to do when they retire, lack of family involvement, and other unknown factors make this transitional period challenging.

It can also be difficult for some older adults to face mortality, especially when spouses, loved ones, friends, or peers pass on. Such losses can lead to intense feelings of isolation in seniors.
In cases of Alzheimer’s or dementia, which affects one in ten retirement age adults, there may be challenges with taking care of basic day-to-day needs.

Discrimination based on a person’s age, or ageism, can also affect the mental health of senior adults. Ageism may lead to forced retirement or result in well-intentioned family members and friends dismissing the wants and opinions of the elderly. According to a recent United Nations Population Survey, 37% of adults over the age of 60 reported experiencing age discrimination in the last year, and 43% were afraid of personal violence. Only 49% of these adults reported being treated with respect, which suggests that just over half of the adults surveyed had experienced occurrences of disrespect. More than half of the adults over 60 found it difficult to pay for essential services, 66% wished they had an opportunity to work, and 47% worried “always” or “very often” about money. 

Cognitive and Mental Health Concerns

It is often the case that older adults experience mild cognitive decline as they age, but some may be affected by some form of dementia which can significantly impair function and lead to the development of mental health issues like anxiety, paranoia, and depression. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s, an accelerating condition that affects memory and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s is the cause of up to 80% of all dementia cases in the United States.

Statistics show that approximately 15% of adults over the age of 60 have some form of mental health condition. Mental health issues most often experienced by senior adults include:
– Anxiety
– Problems with sleep
– Sexual Dysfunction
– Depression
– Behavioral concerns like aggression, verbal outbursts, motor overactivity, or wandering. These are often a result of dementia, delirium, or depression.
– Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
– Alcohol or drug dependency

Therapy for Seniors

Therapy is an excellent option for senior adults experiencing difficulties due to the transition into this stage of life. It can help them to find new support systems and discover new sources of meaningful enjoyment. Talk therapy allows seniors to work through the grief caused by the loss of loved ones and can help address their fears about death if they have them.

Therapy is also an excellent way for families to better understand the needs of their loved one by teaching them ways to communicate better and understand the emotions of the senior adult.

Today’s seniors grew up in a time when there was a stigma around mental health, and mental health issues experienced by older adults were simple written off as a result of aging or dementia. The attitude towards mental health has changed as awareness increases, and more senior adults are seeking treatment for mental health issues not related to aging. Many older adults now consider therapy as a form of treatment that allows them to address stress, family concerns, depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, or any other issues affecting their mental health.

Jurney’s Assisted Living provides a wide variety of individualized personal care needs for our residents, including on-site therapy services through Eventus Whole Health. Eventus Whole Health provides highly-trained psychiatry, psychotherapists, and other support staff. Eventus Whole Health provides collaborative interdisciplinary care with the seamless and vital integration of critical specialties, namely psychiatry and psychotherapy. These services are tailored to residents’ individual needs. Programs like Talk Therapy encourage and direct each resident to resolve issues that may complicate their ability to cope with stress or difficult situations in their life, and medication Management that monitors the effectiveness and progress of medications. Learn more: Services | Jurney’s Assisted Living (jurneysassistedliving.com)