Mental health care for your individual needs
Have you had changes in your mood, memory, sleep, appetite, hygiene, and basic daily functioning that you have been trying to ignore but recognize that you may need some help navigating this landscape? Geriatric mental health disorders are a group of conditions that can affect older adults, often presenting unique challenges and requiring specialized care. Recognizing these conditions and their symptoms is crucial for ensuring the well-being of our older loved ones and ourselves as we navigate the later stages of life.
Understanding the Landscape
Geriatric mental health disorders differ from those experienced by younger individuals in several ways. The aging process itself can bring changes in brain function, impacting mood, memory, and cognitive abilities. Additionally, older adults may face specific stressors such as retirement, physical decline, grief and loss, social isolation, and financial hardships. These factors can all contribute to the development or exacerbation of mental health conditions.
Exploring the Spectrum:
- Depression: Often characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep and appetite, and difficulty concentrating.
- Anxiety: May manifest as excessive worry, nervousness, irritability, physical symptoms like rapid heart rate and sweating, and avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety.
- Dementia: A progressive decline in cognitive function affecting memory, thinking, communication, and daily living activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
- Delirium: A sudden and often temporary state of confusion, disorientation, and altered perception, typically caused by an underlying medical condition or medication.
- Bipolar disorder: Characterized by extreme mood swings between mania (high energy, euphoria) and depression (low energy, sadness).
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Can develop after experiencing a traumatic event, leading to flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma.
- Substance use disorders: Misuse of alcohol or drugs can become more prevalent in later life due to chronic pain, coping mechanisms, or medication interactions.
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