Mental Health Issues Mental Health Issues in Later Lifein Later Life

WELLNESS AND PREVENTIONWELLNESS AND PREVENTION

What is “Normal Aging”?What is “Normal Aging”?

• Two groups:Two groups:– Those with diseaseThose with disease– Those with “normal” healthThose with “normal” health

• Society has a widespread belief, Society has a widespread belief, however, that physical and mental however, that physical and mental declines are inevitable as we age.declines are inevitable as we age.

Successful AgingSuccessful Aging

• Low risk of disease and disease-Low risk of disease and disease-related disabilityrelated disability

• High mental and physical functioningHigh mental and physical functioning

• Active engagement with lifeActive engagement with life– The combination of these three factors The combination of these three factors

constitute the essence of successful constitute the essence of successful aging aging

(Rowe and Khan)(Rowe and Khan)

A Long and Healthy LifeA Long and Healthy Life

• Common-sense practices Common-sense practices – Don't smoke Don't smoke – Don't drink too much Don't drink too much – Eat a healthy dietEat a healthy diet– Get at least 30 minutes of moderate Get at least 30 minutes of moderate

physical activity each day physical activity each day – Get regular checkups and screeningsGet regular checkups and screenings– Wear seat belts and take other safety Wear seat belts and take other safety

precautions precautions

Other Factors for Other Factors for Successful AgingSuccessful Aging

• Attitudes and actions can transform Attitudes and actions can transform our livesour lives

– Lifelong learningLifelong learning

– Active involvementActive involvement

– A hopeful outlookA hopeful outlook

Caring for YourselfCaring for Yourself

• Maintain a positive outlook on lifeMaintain a positive outlook on life

• Take good care of your health Take good care of your health

• Remain activeRemain active

• Stay in close contact with family and friends Stay in close contact with family and friends

• Eat right Eat right

• Remain mentally activeRemain mentally active

• Know what you believeKnow what you believe

Mental Health Issues Mental Health Issues in Later Lifein Later Life

Maintaining Emotional HealthMaintaining Emotional Health

Terms to Describe a Terms to Describe a Healthy Emotional State Healthy Emotional State

• Mental HealthMental Health

• Emotional HealthEmotional Health

• Mental WellnessMental Wellness

• Emotions WellnessEmotions Wellness

– Standard definitions of these terms are Standard definitions of these terms are difficult to find difficult to find

Elements of Mental Elements of Mental Wellness DefinitionsWellness Definitions• Statistical normality Statistical normality

• Observations of one older adult's Observations of one older adult's ability to function compared to others ability to function compared to others

• The degree to which mental disorders The degree to which mental disorders respond to treatment respond to treatment

• An idealized image of continued An idealized image of continued contribution, growth and functioning, contribution, growth and functioning, sometimes labeled successful agingsometimes labeled successful aging

Definitions of Mental Definitions of Mental Wellness Wellness

1.1. A measure of personal life A measure of personal life satisfaction and quality of life that satisfaction and quality of life that affects the older individual and the affects the older individual and the communitycommunity

((www.asaging.orgwww.asaging.org))

2.2. ““Striking a balance in all aspects of Striking a balance in all aspects of your life – social, physical, spiritual, your life – social, physical, spiritual, economic, mental” economic, mental”

((www.stjosham.on.ca/mentalhealth/about.htmwww.stjosham.on.ca/mentalhealth/about.htm))

Definitions of Mental Definitions of Mental Wellness Wellness (continued)(continued)

3.3. Successful performance of mental Successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity… change and to cope with adversity… mental health is the springboard of mental health is the springboard of thinking and communication skills, thinking and communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self esteem and self esteem

((www.surgeongeneral.govwww.surgeongeneral.gov))

A Healthy Mind is A Healthy Mind is ImportantImportant• Good mental health can help youGood mental health can help you

– Enjoy life moreEnjoy life more– Handle difficult situationsHandle difficult situations– Stay better connected to your loved onesStay better connected to your loved ones– Keep your body strongKeep your body strong– Save money on healthcare expensesSave money on healthcare expenses– Live longer Live longer

(DHHS publication No. [SMA] 02-3618, 2001)(DHHS publication No. [SMA] 02-3618, 2001)

Maintaining Emotional Maintaining Emotional HealthHealth

• Most older adults enjoy good mental Most older adults enjoy good mental healthhealth

• Emotional, mental, and physical Emotional, mental, and physical health are all connectedhealth are all connected

• A healthy mind is as important as a A healthy mind is as important as a healthy body, and should be given healthy body, and should be given the same attention!the same attention!

SleepSleep

• Sleep is an important part of our Sleep is an important part of our ability to rememberability to remember– Neuronal connections may be remodeled Neuronal connections may be remodeled

during sleepduring sleep– Some memory tasks appear to be more Some memory tasks appear to be more

vulnerable to sleep deprivation than vulnerable to sleep deprivation than othersothers

– Sleep deprivation may produce effects in Sleep deprivation may produce effects in the brain that resemble those associated the brain that resemble those associated with aging   with aging   

– Evidence that sleep plays an important Evidence that sleep plays an important role in memory consolidationrole in memory consolidation

((http://www.memory-key.com/NatureofMemory/sleep.htmhttp://www.memory-key.com/NatureofMemory/sleep.htm))

StressStress

• Managing stress can affect one’s Managing stress can affect one’s outlook on lifeoutlook on life – Not all stress is negativeNot all stress is negative – Chronic stress takes a toll on the brainChronic stress takes a toll on the brain

• In older persons, stress is thought to In older persons, stress is thought to play a bigger role in triggering play a bigger role in triggering depression than in other groupsdepression than in other groups

Managing StressManaging Stress

• Eat regular healthy Eat regular healthy mealsmeals

• Avoid caffeineAvoid caffeine

• Get enough sleep Get enough sleep

• Engage in some kind Engage in some kind of regular physical of regular physical activityactivity

• Recognize that there Recognize that there are some things you are some things you cannot control and cannot control and focus your attention focus your attention on the things that you on the things that you cancan

• Develop a sense of Develop a sense of humor; put some fun humor; put some fun back into your life by back into your life by doing something you doing something you really enjoy every dayreally enjoy every day

Mental Health Issues Mental Health Issues in Later Lifein Later Life

Staying ConnectedStaying Connected

Social ConnectionSocial Connection

• Maintaining social connections is Maintaining social connections is important to wellness in later life important to wellness in later life

• Social relationships serve as a key Social relationships serve as a key source of informal supportsource of informal support

• Loneliness is a problem for many Loneliness is a problem for many older adults older adults

RetirementRetirement

1.1. Take a slow exitTake a slow exit

2.2. Try a new job on a part-time basisTry a new job on a part-time basis

3.3. Share your job Share your job

4.4. Take a break Take a break

5.5. Volunteer Volunteer

Mental Health Issues Mental Health Issues in Later Lifein Later Life

Dealing with GriefDealing with Grief

Grief and BereavementGrief and Bereavement

Losses are a part of everyone’s livesLosses are a part of everyone’s lives– As we age we accumulate more lossesAs we age we accumulate more losses– Loss of a spouse is common in late lifeLoss of a spouse is common in late life

•About 800,000 older Americans are widowed About 800,000 older Americans are widowed each year each year

• Elders’ expressions of grief are often Elders’ expressions of grief are often shaped by their cultural values and shaped by their cultural values and beliefs beliefs

Grief and Loss Grief and Loss ExperiencesExperiences• Anxiety or panicAnxiety or panic

– 40 percent of people who lose a spouse 40 percent of people who lose a spouse experience generalized anxiety or panic experience generalized anxiety or panic syndromes in the first year syndromes in the first year

• DeathDeath– In the first six months after a loss, mortality In the first six months after a loss, mortality

among surviving spouses increases 40 to 70 among surviving spouses increases 40 to 70 percent compared with the general percent compared with the general population. population.

Complicated GriefComplicated Grief

• Roughly 15 percent of people who have Roughly 15 percent of people who have lost a loved one might be susceptible to lost a loved one might be susceptible to “complicated grief” “complicated grief” – a condition more severe than the average loss-a condition more severe than the average loss-

related life transition, depression, and anxietyrelated life transition, depression, and anxiety

• Risk factors for complicated griefRisk factors for complicated grief– Excessive dependency on the person who died Excessive dependency on the person who died – History of depression or anxiety History of depression or anxiety – Sudden death of a loved one Sudden death of a loved one

Symptoms of GriefSymptoms of Grief

• Depression Depression

• Anxiety Anxiety

• Substance abuse Substance abuse

• Symptoms of “complicated” grief Symptoms of “complicated” grief – searching, yearning, preoccupation with searching, yearning, preoccupation with

thoughts of the deceased, crying, disbelief thoughts of the deceased, crying, disbelief regarding the death, feeling stunned by the regarding the death, feeling stunned by the death, and lack of acceptance of the loss. death, and lack of acceptance of the loss.

Stages of GriefStages of Grief

• Denial Denial

• Anger Anger

• Reactive Depression Reactive Depression

• Guilt Guilt

• Acceptance Acceptance

Coping with GriefCoping with Grief

Take care of your bodyTake care of your body

Take care of your mindTake care of your mind

Take care of your spiritTake care of your spirit