People sometimes forget that – physical health is closely related to mental health. These are like two-way roads that work together. Therefore, if one trembles, another takes a fall along with it. As people age, physical health usually starts to decline. Aging people have to adjust to many new situations including lack of independence, financial worries, and social isolation. Such changes sometimes lead to health issues. The problem is – as physical health begins to lose its vitality, often senior citizens begin to suffer from mental health issues which may turn into serious problems if not taken care of at the earliest stage.
Often mental health problems in elderly people go untreated or unnoticed. It happens because society regards such issues as normal events which come with age. In addition to this, a lack of mental health awareness makes matters even more difficult to handle.
People who have crossed the age of 60 possess the ability to contribute greatly to society. However, due to circumstances and social discrimination, people often retreat to their shells. It leads to a plethora of issues including – depression, anxiety, and even neurological disorders. However, elderly people rarely speak about their mental health problems because of the stigmas attached to them. This is the reason, mental health services fail to detect serious cases of elderly mental health disorders sometimes.
Even though rarely people speak about their mental health, it is one of the most essential elements of life. Mental health governs the emotional well-being of people. It also works closely with psychological issues. Deteriorating mental health can affect how one feels, thinks, or behaves. Those who are closely associated with elderly care services pay so much importance to mental health because of this. However, the best thing about mental health is – it can be taken care of with proper assistance. However, you need to learn about the factors and signs of mental health problems to combat them.
Financial status is a major factor that can affect mental health negatively. Regardless of your age, a financial crunch is going to implement a negative impact on your mind. This is one of the factors which plays a big role in elderly mental health problems. After retirement, people lose their steady income source. Lack of financial independence leads to loss of mental peace. The changes in the quality of living lead to depression frequently.
Another issue that plays a major role in making elderly people suffer from sadness, depression, or even anxiety is – the lack of social associations. After retirement, people often lose connection to the outside world. It affects the state of mind severely. A lot of mental problems come out of loneliness and feeling of isolation. People who possess mental health awareness know about these problems and work hard to prevent things from getting serious.
Being able to detect the red flags can solve many serious issues from taking place. Mental health problems may come silently, but after a while, the symptoms become very apparent. Your job is to detect these signs and get in touch with the reputed mental health services without any delay. Here are some signs to consider -
These are the common signs of mental health issues. If you detect these in your parents or aging loved ones, you need to act quickly. Delay in getting professional help may lead to cases like dementia or schizophrenia. However, in case the issues are mild, you can speak to mental health issue counsellors to know how you can help build positive mental health in elderly people.
It is important to make a little effort in building positive mental health in elderly people. While elderly care services offer professional assistance, you need to provide moral support to your aging relatives. Given below is a list of things you can implement to improve elderly mental health.
These are the most common ways to lead a healthy and happy life. Usually, proper implementation of a balanced lifestyle can do wonders for most elderly people. However, you must keep an eye on them for signs of serious mental health issues. In such cases, professional counselling or diagnosis might be required.
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