Page 35 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2023 - Online Magazine
P. 35
SENIOR RESOURCES
MENTAL HEALTH & SENIORS:
Warning Signs and Treatment Options
• Lack of motivation or energy treatment options exist to help
• Difficulty falling asleep or seniors struggling with mental
staying awake health challenges. Inpatient and
outpatient options connect seniors
• Thoughts of suicide or with professionals who can provide
previous attempts at suicide needed care so they can return to
• Memory problems, feeling like themselves.
forgetfulness, or difficulty
making decisions Inpatient treatment options involve
patients staying at a hospital or
In addition to age, there are a health care facility. Patients are
variety of factors that can contribute supervised by board-certified or
to the development of mental health board-eligible psychiatrists, receive
ental health is a vital issues in seniors, including: intensive counseling and education,
and are prepared for eventual
component to living a • Traumatic life events, such as
Mhappy and healthy life. It loss of a family member or discharge and continuing care.
Outpatient options allow patients
is estimated that 15% of adults, 60 spouse the opportunity to recover while
and older, experience some type • Low levels of important in the comfort of their own
of mental disorder, but only one- biochemicals, like serotonin environment. Patients are again
third get the treatment they need, and norepinephrine supervised by board-certified or
according to the World Health board-eligible psychiatrists and
Organization. • Limited mobility or damage to
body image due to illness or attend group or individual therapy
Mental health challenges do not injury multiple times a week.
have to coincide with aging. • Chronic medical conditions, Awareness of inpatient and
However, understanding when such as heart disease, diabetes, outpatient treatment options
certain behaviors are symptoms stroke, cancer, etc. is a crucial step in addressing
of a mental health disorder and • Fear of death and worry over the treatment gap that exists
recognizing them early can help physical health among seniors today and getting
individuals receive treatment individuals the help they need.
sooner and promote healing. Some • Chronic or severe pain
of the most common physical and • Substance abuse If you or a loved one is experiencing
behavioral symptoms include:
• Isolation or prolonged mental health challenges, reach out
loneliness to a qualified provider like Oceans
• Persistent sadness, Behavioral Hospital Lubbock* for a
anxiousness, or despair Lack of social and emotional confidential assessment at
• Unexplained aches or pains support leads to an increased www.oceanslubbock.com or
that do not improve with risk of deteriorating mental or (806) 516-1190.
medication physical health, according to the
• Sudden loss of weight or journal of Social Psychiatry and *See ad on inside back cover.
appetite Psychiatric Epidemiology. Many
Lubbock Senior Link 35
