Mental health is a subject that still comes with a lot of stigma. Most people, both young and old, is not comfortable being honest about this topic. There are a lot of rationalization and defense mechanisms that people employ to avoid what they feel is an uncomfortable subject.
In this context, we should be even more concerned with senior citizens, who often go through tremendous challenges to their mental health. Old age is a time of transition, and there can be a lot of factors that trigger pain, sadness, and unhealthy mindsets.
In this article, let us explore some strategies to ensure that our senior citizens can cultivate positive mental health. After all, it is far more difficult to address mental health issues retroactively than proactively.
Three Effective Ways to Enhance Mental Health in the Elderly
Here are three impactful strategies for improving the mental well-being of seniors:
1. Recognize that Loneliness and Isolation are Key Triggers
Most of the problems with seniors in mental health point back to isolation. We are social animals, and with age, one does not lose the need for social contact. We are social animals, and as we age, our need for social interaction doesn’t disappear. In fact, some might argue that it gets stronger. Seniors often have limitations placed on their ability to be social, either directly or indirectly.
Physical conditions, mobility issues, and relatives who shift the responsibility of caregiving to strangers are painful to endure. Seniors in such situations are constantly reminded that they aren’t a priority anymore for their families.
This, in fact, sets in the resultant loneliness and isolation that can provoke and intensify a host of mental health issues like depression, and even dementia. Identifying and addressing the issues to ensure seniors are not left behind to suffer loneliness work very long towards improving the mental health for seniors.
This is why senior homes that recognize these risks take steps to engage older adults in some form of social or community experience. This can involve starting a choir program, which has been found to reduce feelings of loneliness. Likewise, hosting regular comedy sessions, live music, and drama performances by visiting groups also helps.
2. Remember That Seniors Are Still Individuals
A common mistake that can be made is treating the elderly like they are a monolithic block. We forget that these are people with personalities, interests, and life stories as diverse as you and I. Thus, we want to avoid offering solutions based on stereotypes of what we think “seniors” would be helped by.
For instance, assume that all seniors like playing bingo, knitting sweaters, or taking afternoon naps. Unfortunately, when seniors are put in old-age homes, their individual preferences are rarely looked at. The feelings of depersonalization that this causes are worth highlighting. Their limitations also make it so that they cannot protest to much effect.
This is one of those situations that are easily resolved when the nursing home is equipped with expert staff and infrastructure. However, how many seniors will end up living in such a home?
That said, whoever plays a caretaker role can do a lot by remembering the individuality of seniors. Talk to them. Find out their likes and dislikes, and make them feel like they still have some semblance of control over their lives. Above all, see that they get the right care and a comfortable place to live.
3. Physical Health Goes a Long Way Toward Mental Health
While this might seem a bit clinical, the health of a senior can affect their state of mind. Life is hard as it is when you are dealing with the challenges that old age brings. However, when you combine them with poor physical health, it can affect the mind as well.
Proper nutrition, regular checkups, and medication if needed ensure that a senior isn’t fighting battles on two fronts. Remember, physical illness and ailments are particularly draining on seniors, and fatigue and loss of strength can make life feel hopeless. If your loved one is a senior, one step you can take is to ensure they have a solid insurance policy that will offer comprehensive coverage. Financial issues are one reason why seniors may hesitate to get the help they need. If you can address that aspect, they will be ready to seek help as and when required.
Challenges to Maintaining a Positive Mindset in Old Age
The road for a senior is not always easy to remain optimistic about. Here are some bumps they may face:
- Physical health barriers: Aches and pains, and even the less ability to move much all work towards making enjoying your favorite activities much harder. In the process, dullness in both mood and motivation prevails.
- Loss of loved ones: When friends and family leave, it often brings about grief that causes isolation and disconnection. Feelings of gloom, are very much normal in such situations.
- Retirement rerouting: Transitioning into post-working life is very trying for individuals who are used to otherwise giving their all in their careers. Routine and identity change often make one get all unsettled and even feel restless.
Still, there are some ways in which seniors could get a more positive attitude towards the whole thing. Doing the kinds of things they enjoy, whether it was physical exercise of some kind or hobbies, could help increase the mood and combat the negativity. It’s necessary to prevent any form of elder abuse. Further, linking with others in the course of community programs, support groups, or volunteering all help in the realization of belongingness and purpose.
Final Thoughts
We talked about the major psychological issues seniors face, from social isolation to loss of identity, that could really set them back. But the good news is that being proactive can make a big difference.
In social relationships, exercising respect toward the wishes of the partner, and physical activities through exercise of the right kind were seen as enabling him to embrace a positive attitude. But then again, it’s not just about the bingo and the naps. It’s really a recognition of them as persons in their own right, who have to be able to make connections, find meaning, and be able to experience life satisfaction. May their mental states reign and shine in their golden era.
Read next: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners and the Elderly
Resources:
- PubMed Central, Frontiers in Medicine, Liora Bar-Tur, 2021, “Fostering Well-Being in the Elderly: Translating Theories on Positive Aging to Practical Approaches”
- PubMed Central, World Psychiatry, Charles F. Reynolds, et al., 2022, “Mental health care for older adults: recent advances and new directions in clinical practice and research”
- SpringerLink, Chen, H., Chen, Y., Wang, Y., et al., 2023, “A Study on Mental Health Service Needs among Older Adults and the Policy Response in China: Experiences in Urban Shanghai.”
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Psychosocial Interventions for Older Adults with Serious Mental Illness”.