Mental Illness & The Elderly - Is Your Loved One at Risk?

Each year, millions of Americans experience the reality of living with mental illness. The impact of someone living with mental illness reaches beyond the individual. Mental illness affects those directly caring for the individual, as well as those who come in contact with the individual indirectly, through extended family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. Although our society is slowly recognizing mental illness as a medical condition, there is still a stigma associated with mental illness, and many misunderstand what it means to have a diagnosis of mental illness.

What’s more surprising is that approximately 20% of older adults, over the age of 55, have experienced some sort of mental illness. Yet, only one in three of those seniors do not receive treatment. You are probably aware that the most common mental illness in older adults is dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 5.5. million people age 65 and older are living with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. When an older adult experiences cognitive impairment or decline, they are likely to seek treatment or at the very least, a medical opinion that allows them to receive a proper diagnosis.

What typically goes undiagnosed and untreated amongst older adults are depression and mood disorders. Depression and mood disorders are not a normal part of growing older. Although only approximately 1 to 5 percent  of older adults over the age of 65 report experiencing major depression, according to the CDC, these low numbers does not mean that we should overlook depression and mood disorders in older adults.

Another prevalent mental illness amongst older adults is anxiety. Anxiety manifests itself in many forms, from phobias, such as the fear of leaving the house, to post-traumatic stress disorder, and even obsessive-compulsive disorders. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that generalized anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder among older adults.

October 7-13 is National Mental Illness Awareness Week. While it is important to remember that it is natural for some changes to occur with age, persistent behaviors that deviate from your aging loved one’s baseline could be cause for concern. With one and five Americans affected by mental health conditions, here are a few signs to look for to determine whether or not your aging loved one is at risk for developing mental illness.

Changes in Appearance

If your loved one consistently looks sloppy when they otherwise would appear put together, or they habitually lounge around in their pajamas and neglect to bathe or groom themselves, then they could be at risk for mental illness. Other changes to observe are neglecting household chores, maintaining their yard, or having difficulty motivating themselves to run basic errands. Even changes in weight, such as increased or decreased appetite, could indicate they are struggling with mental illness.

Changes in Cognition

Is your loved one disoriented, experiencing consistent confusion, or unable to concentrate or make decisions? They could be suffering from mental illness. Memory loss, especially recent memory loss, is definitely a sign that they are at risk for mental illness. Another indicator is if they are having trouble handling finances or have difficulty working with numbers. Remember, if they could never balance their checkbook in the past, then this is not a good indicator. However, if they never missed a mortgage payment or could easily add a 20% tip to the dinner bill, and now they are having difficulty, it could indicate mental illness.

Social Withdrawal

Lastly, social withdrawal or a lack of interest in favorite pastimes is an indicator that your loved one is at risk for mental illness. They could experience feelings of worthlessness, lack a sense of purpose, feel helpless, or have inappropriate guilt. These feelings lead to withdrawing from social events or losing motivation to pursue hobbies. These feelings can even lead to sleep changes, having difficulty falling or staying asleep, and experience fatigue for no apparent reason. While everyone is entitled to short periods of feeling down, when feelings linger longer than two weeks, then your loved one may be at risk for mental illness.

It is important to learn to recognize the signs of mental illness in our aging loved ones. As we mentioned above, mental illness is not a normal part of aging. While there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s and most other forms of dementia, other mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, can be treated. Depression and anxiety can also be warded off with proper care and attention. Visiting Angels Punta Gorda is here to help. One way that we can assist is through our Elderly Companion Care services. Companion care is perfect for older adults who live alone or far from family. Our compassionate caregivers provide company, conversation, and the continuity of a dedicated care companion. Together, we can help your aging loved one ward off mental illness. If you think your loved one could benefit from companion care, please contact us today and set up a free consultation.