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The Importance of Mental and Emotional Health
Mental health diagnoses in those aged 65 and older are increasing. Anxiety and depression are the most common diagnoses. Women have the highest percentage of mental health diagnoses. Suicide risk is very high for men with men aged 85 or older having the highest suicide rate of any age group. Most seniors report ever-increasing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Most seniors are concerned about dementia and memory loss. Dementia is characterized by symptoms that include memory loss, confusion, changes in personality, a decline in cognition, and difficulty performing everyday tasks.
Both genetics and environmental considerations affect mental health. Research over the last 10 years has produced a greater understanding that lifestyle factors are strongly linked to both physical and mental health. Lifestyle factors such as exercise, social and cognitive stimulating activities, a purpose in life, sleep, diet, stress, and social isolation are particularly important for older people in maintaining both physical and mental health. Managing high blood pressure and heart disease and limiting alcohol consumption all lower your risk for mental illness. Hearing loss is a key emerging risk factor for dementia. As hearing loss increases social engagement decreases, resulting in loss of sensory reserve. Research indicates it is never too late to create positive changes in our brain and body after age 40 the payoff for the effort may be higher.
Everyone experiences stress and as we age coping with stress becomes more difficult Stressors the cause of stress, can include the loss of a loved one, too much unstructured time, a change in family relationships, loss of physical abilities, and financial concerns. Tension, headaches, indigestion, heart palpitations, difficulty in sleeping and concentrating, anxiety, irritability, crying, and overeating are all symptoms of stress.
Problems in everyday living can be stressors. We can cope with stress in several different ways. When we overcommit our time, we can feel stress. The problem can be solved, and stress reduced if we accept our over-commitment and decommit. At times reframing your thinking about a situation can relieve stress. As an example, your colleague's criticism of you may be unwarranted and more related to your colleague's feelings of inadequacies rather than your fault. Exercise, intellectual activities, meditation, and relaxing techniques all can reduce stress. Learning new skills can reduce stress such as learning money management to address the stress caused by financial problems. Psychotherapy can be necessary to mediate extreme and or chronic feelings of stress. Stress is normal, and increases with age, however we can learn to better cope with it at any age.
Loneliness is common among older adults and associated with the likelihood of chronic disease depression and other health issues. The decrease in family interaction and support, the loss of friends and life partners, pandemics, financial difficulties, inability to complete daily activities, vision and hearing loss, depression, and anxiety all contribute to the epidemic of senior loneliness. Research shows that high cognitive functioning, vibrant social networks, the use of digital technology, social engagement, and physical activity lessen the negative effects of loneliness on physical and mental health. Participation in activities at senior centers, increasing the knowledge and use of digital technology, and participating in support groups are practical steps to decrease the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness.
Sources:
How older adults can build resilience against loneliness.
Michael Shimura Hebrew Senior Life, August 16th, 2021
Association Of Loneliness With Change In Physical And Emotional Health Of Older Adults During The COVID-19 Shutdown
Julianne Liu et al. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry volume 31 issue 12 December 2023 pages 1102-1113
How To Lower Your Dementia Risk, January 1st, 2024, Matthew Solan, Harvard Men's Health W
Suicide and older adults - What you should know.
National Council of Aging, January 9th, 2024
Maintaining Your Brain Health, Center for Disease Control, June 2024 senior support group
