Author:  Maria Alfano

Age and your seniors’ mental health may be the last thing on your mind in midlife, but you need to pay attention to it now!  Recognizing and knowing the symptoms is critical to your long-term psychological wellbeing.  Catching them early in the developmental process could mean the difference between wonderful golden years and those that are not so pleasant for you or your loved ones.

I know what you’re thinking, “I’m not old or even close to being a senior!  Why should I waste time focusing on this now?  I have lots of time to worry about this.”  Staying on top of your physical and psychological wellness should be top of mind at any age.

Life gets in the way sometimes – the kids’ hockey practice or dance recitals, the big project at work, taking care of aging parents.  I could go on for days with all the excuses and activities that fill our time.  The one activity that rarely makes the list during midlife is taking care of yourself and your mental health.

Seniors’ Mental Health – Easy Ways To Stay Healthy With Age

What can you do to take care of yourself early enough to delay or even avoid the effects of mental illness as you age?

Common Mental Health Issues in Elderly People

The top mental health issues that affect you in your older years include but are not limited to:

• Depression – is the most common.  Although this is a mental illness, it can lead to physical issues if not treated.
• Dementia – the WHO says that at least 5% of the elderly will suffer from memory loss.  In its advanced stages, this becomes Alzheimer’s.
• Anxiety – will enhance your worries and sometimes make them more prominent than they actually are.
• Mood disorders – unipolar (depression) or bipolar (manic depressive)

The most commonly overlooked of these illnesses are depression and dementia.  Society has become complacent with these two.  It has almost become expected that seniors will experience these issues so little is done in a timely manner to prevent or delay them.

Mental Health Changes

Thankfully most older folks remain in good physical and mental health as they age.  The decline in hormones is often the cause of the mental health changes experienced in the elderly.

Causes for These Issues

• Loss of loved ones
• Worries about finances
• Physical wellness concerns
• Boredom

Losing loved ones and friends can be devastating.  Being the only survivor from a long list of people that used to surround you leads to loneliness and thoughts of why you are still hanging around when everyone else is gone.

Warning signs of mental illness

If you see these signs in yourself or a loved one, take action.  Don’t let them fester and become out of control to the point of no return.

• Avoiding people – not attending family functions, not allowing guests in your home, refusing to go out in public
• Loss of appetite
• Sleep pattern is disrupted – you either sleep too much or have difficulty sleeping
• Feeling like all hope is gone
• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetting things more frequently
• Very moody – angry or aggressive behaviors
• Not taking care of your personal appearance

What Can You Do To Prevent Mental Health Issues

Mind games – just when you thought you were past the phase of your life for mind games, now is the most important time to play.  Jigsaw puzzles, word games, Sudoku, or any other game that makes you focus and think are great stimulants for your brain.  Like any other muscle, your brain needs exercise to keep it healthy.

Read or write – reading a good book or writing your own book or blog is an excellent way to keep your brain active.

Music – learn to play a new instrument, read or write music, sing, or simply take time to listen to your favorite tunes.  Music brings joy as well as brain stimulation.

Family and friends – staying connected to your loved ones has never been easier.  In the world of modern technology, you can have anyone in your own living room with a click of a button.  There is no more excuse that you can’t get out to see someone.  Video chats are super simple and quite enjoyable.

Join a group – find a walking group in your area or an outdoor tai chi class.  Participation will not only allow you to make new friends, but it will also get you exercising on a regular basis.

Learn something new – whether you like to paint, cook, do DIY projects or even knit, learning new things will help improve your brain’s cognitive functions.

Volunteer – there are so many amazing organizations like Habitat For Humanity, animal shelters, seniors’ homes, and many more places that could use your compassion and lending hand.  In return, you will feel appreciated, needed, and loved.  What more could you ask for in life!!

How Can Family and Friends Help

The number one issue in mental health is the feeling of being alone with no one to care for and no one who loves you.  Friends and family can help by:

• Including the elderly in functions
• Exercise with them
• Have a special day each week/month that is dedicated to them and anything they want to do
• Check up on them with a phone call or impromptu visit

Available Help

Resources are available all over North America to help with seniors’ mental health.  Protect yourself or your loved ones with any one of these services, many of which are free.

USA

• Mental Health.gov – the US Department of Health & Human Services is a one-stop-shop for information on mental health issues
• National Institute of Mental Health – a great place to learn more about seniors’ mental health
• National Mental Health Consumers Self-Help Clearinghouse  – a directory for anyone or anything to do with mental health.  Everything you could think of at your fingertips
• Alzheimers.gov – the place to get all the information or links to the information about Alzheimer’s
• American Psychological Association – for help in coping with stress and anxiety
• AmeriCorps – an awesome organization that teams folks 55+ with volunteer opportunities

Canada

• Canadian Coalition For Seniors’ Mental Health – for a caring place to get help for your aging loved one’s mental health
• Canadian Mental Health Association – for support with mental illness.  They have over 330 locations to serve you
• LifeLine Canada – medical alert devices to relieve the stress and anxiety of living alone.  Help is only a push of the button away!
• Alzheimer Society – for twice the care that your loved one could ever need
• GVI Canada – another amazing organization that teams folks 50+ with volunteer opportunities

In Summary

Mental illness is not weakness or cause for shame.  It is a real problem for many people as they age.  The good news is you can do something about it now rather than waiting around for seniors’ mental health issues to get an iron-clad grip on you that won’t let go.

We would love to hear from you.  What great organization or tips have you used to help your elderly family members or friends with their seniors’ mental health issues?

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

• 7 Best Brain Healing Foods You Need In Your Diet To Improve Your Midlife Health
• 7 Sea Moss Benefits You Need To Know About That Will Get Your Midlife Body Working Like A Well-Oiled Machine

Photos from Unsplash