Mental Health

One in four older adults has symptoms of a mental health disorder, and as the population ages, the number is expected to rise. However, mental illness is not something people should expect to occur as they age because aging is not a risk factor. So why do so many older adults avoid seeking help? Some feel they would be a burden asking for help, some don’t recognize their symptoms as mental illness, and some overlook their symptoms due to physical ailments. If your elderly parents experience mental health symptoms, there are things you can do to improve their symptoms and their overall well-being.   Know the Most Common Mental Illnesses in Elderly Parents Anxiety and depression are on the rise among mental health issues among older adults. Among the anxiety disorders, specific phobia is the most common, followed by social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and …

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The technical age for being a senior is 62, or retirement age. Some say 65 makes you a senior, which correlates with the age a person qualifies for Medicare. The World Health Organization identifies seniors as anyone over 60 when discussing mental health. Among that group, 20% struggle with a mental health or neurological disorder.  Americans over 65 make up 16% of the population. Sadly, this population accounts for a higher percentage of total suicides, 19%, according to reports. Unfortunately, substance misuse is also increasing among older adults, with over one million adults over 65 having a substance use disorder. The AARP research team conducted a survey on people 50 and older. In the two weeks before the survey, 45% of the participants reported having anxiety, 31% felt depressed or hopeless, and 52% had sleep disturbances. Symptoms like these reduce quality of life for our seniors. Mental Health and Aging …

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