Seniors Mental Health Matters
Our grandparents and parents are getting older and it impacts all of us.
Canada is getting older.
In 2016, the Canadian census results revealed that there were more older adults than children, for the first time in census history. Reporting a record 5.9 million Canadians aged 65 and older, Statistics Canada noted that this figure exceeded the 5.8 million Canadians aged 14 and under (Statistics Canada, 2017).
Mental health issues and disorders among older persons are going to affect every family as our aging population grows. The mounting strain on the healthcare system will have enormous social and economic repercussions if it is not addressed.
We know that community-based services and primary care providers play a crucial role in assisting people in maintaining mental health and managing mental health issues and illnesses as they age. In order to meet this challenge, it’s important to understand the current state of Seniors and mental health…
The facts and stats about seniors and mental health
Did you know that at least 1 in 4 older adults experience some mental disorder such as depression, anxiety or dementia? As the general population is aging, the number of seniors with mental disorders is expected to double by 2023.
Too many seniors do not receive the assistance they require. Mental health conditions that go undiagnosed and untreated can have devastating effects on older people and the people they care about. Because of this, it's crucial to comprehend these facts and stats about aging.
Even though the majority of mental illnesses begin in childhood or adolescence, older persons are disproportionately susceptible to the detrimental effects of mental illness.
According to Sinai Health Health Ageing and Geriatrics, some of the more common mental health conditions amongst older adults are:
Depression
Anxiety
Delirium
Addictive Disorders
Suicide.
Some stats:
It is estimated that approximately 76% of seniors are diagnosed with mental health disorders ranging from Alzheimer’s, dementia, anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and psychosis
Many seniors may also suffer from sleep or behavioural disorders, and cognitive deterioration or confusion.
Among these disorders, depression and dementia are one of the most common mental health problems seen in older individuals.
20% of older Canadians, or one in five, report being socially isolated to some extent, which can increase their risk of loneliness and mental health problems
To be more specific, research has shown that people aged 85 and older have the highest suicide rates of any age group.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is often seen within the older population, and is known as a chronic and progressive disorder. When individuals suffer from dementia there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities. It is estimated that 50 million people worldwide live with dementia with approximately 60% living in low-and-middle income countries.
What is Depression?
Depression is a disorder that causes great suffering and impairs an individual's ability to function in their daily lives. Depression is both underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings due to the symptoms being overlooked and untreated as normal aging emotions. Individuals that do suffer from depression may be poorer functioning, have poorer health and may not be able to complete activities of daily living independently.
Risk factors impacting senior mental health
Stereotypes make talking about mental illness difficult for older persons.
Many people disregard the presence of mental illness in older folks because they believe things like "old people are just stubborn" or "they become mean as they age." Messages like this can make it challenging for caregivers to distinguish between mental illness and what are thought of as "normal parts of aging." Understanding the signs and symptoms of mental illness, which does not occur naturally with aging, help us identify when a loved one needs support in managing with their issues.
Mental illness symptoms vary from person to person, however, there are some common symptoms often found in older adults:
Changes in personal hygiene or standards of living
Confusion, poor concentration, trouble making decisions
Changes in appetite or weight
Feelings of worthlessness, guilt and helplessness
Short-term memory loss
Unexplained fatigue, oversleeping or insomnia
Social withdrawal
Loss of interest in activities.
Mental health is linked to physical health and vice versa.
Mental health and one's physical health is equally impactful on an individual. Seniors experience the natural physical changes associated with aging - like arthritis, knee and hip pain, high cholesterol, and more - and these ailments frequently result in a decline in functional abilities, chronic pain, frailty, and other health problems.
Losing mobility, suffering from chronic pain or a physical health condition is hard for anyone to cope with. Sometimes mental health deteriorates in response to a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, arthritis, or diabetes, and even some medications. Overall, good mental health contributes greatly to an overall feeling of well-being. Whereas, untreated mental health disorders in older adults can lead to diminished functioning, substance abuse, poor quality of life, and increased mortality.
For example, seniors that suffer from a physical health condition such as heart disease are at a higher risk of depression compared to those who are healthy. Whereas, seniors who suffer from untreated depression can increase their risks of heart disease due to stress.
Seniors struggle with losing their independence.
We become less capable of taking care of ourselves as we become older. There is an increased dependence on others - which can result from a variety of conditions - and as a result, many seniors deal with emotions of powerlessness and shame for burdening others in addition to the symptoms of diminished self-sufficiency.
For example, many senior citizens are no longer able to do as much or travel as easily as they once could, whether it be due to physical limits, transportation restrictions, or a combination of the two. When elderly folks lose their driver's license it is very painful.
Seniors are suffering from loneliness.
Retirement, the absence of dependent children, empty calendars, memory loss, and declining faculties are just a few factors that contribute to the elderly feeling unimportant. Combined with ageism, which is pervasive in our youth-obsessed culture, elders feel ‘invisible’, hopeless and isolated.
According to HelpAge Canada, social isolation and loneliness affects more than one million older Canadians, especially those with limited means. Social isolation is a concern because of the negative impact on individuals and their families. Loneliness can result in serious social, mental and physical health challenges, as well as in a significantly reduced quality of life for older persons and their caregivers.
Research has found that social isolation and exclusion are associated with:
increased chance of premature death
lower general well-being
depression
disability from chronic diseases
poor mental health
increased use of health and support services
reduced quality of life
caregiver burden
poor general health.
Specifically, elders are less likely to be a part of the community and more likely to go through significant life events alone. Many elderly people have lost their partners, pals, neighbours, doctors, and other colleagues, and as a result, they often live alone and have few opportunities for social interaction, making them extremely prone to experiencing loneliness.
Seniors frequently miss the members of their peer group with whom they had shared experiences in the past and frequent chats, even though some of them have family close by or even live with them. Even if friends are still alive, it may become more challenging to visit them.
And, for those individuals who are transitioning from living independently to long-term care homes, they may feel that they are moving away from their social circle and into new and strange environments - which can very difficult to process.
Seniors are misusing drugs to relieve their pain.
Some people might be surprised to find that geriatric substance misuse is on the rise. The use of drugs to temporarily relieve chronic pain, which is typically more common among older adults, is one reason, along with any of the above risk factors.
Other factors include an increase in the number of drugs—some of which are addictive—being prescribed to people as they get older and age-related cognitive impairment leading to accidental misuse.
And while drugs and alcohol might temporarily dull physical or emotional pain, the rise of drug and alcohol misuse has been linked to the likelihood of depression.
Seniors are vulnerable to elder abuse.
Elder abuse can consist of physical, verbal, psychological, financial and sexual abuse. Furthermore, elder abuse can lead to other physical and psychological difficulties which can be long-lasting. According to Statistics Canada, violence against seniors is thought to affect approximately one in eight older adults living in the Americas and older Canadians are at risk of experiencing violence at the hands of family members, intimate partners, friends, caregivers and others.
In fact:
According to the General Social Survey on Canadians’ Safety (Victimization), there were about 128,000 senior victims of violence in Canada in 2019
Overall, three-quarters (76%) of seniors who reported experiencing violent victimization in 2019 were physically assaulted
In 2020, nearly two-thirds (64%) of senior victims of police-reported violence were victimized by someone other than a family member or intimate partner
Acquaintances were implicated for more than one in four (28%) senior victims of violence while one-quarter (24%) of senior victims were victimized by stranger
In 2020, the overall rate of police-reported senior victimization in the provinces was higher in rural compared to urban areas (247 versus 214 per 100,000 population).
Seniors are worried about their future.
Even the healthiest seniors are aware that they have lived a far longer life than they will in the future.
Long-term anxiety and sadness can be brought on by a fear of what is to come, such as accelerated aging or cognitive decline, financial risks, housing arrangements, reduced security, one's own or loved ones' deaths, or becoming a burden to others.
How to support senior mental health
So what do you do if your elderly parents start to need care or can’t take care of themselves? How do you support their physical and mental health needs while taking care of your other responsibilities?
Many adults in their late 40’s and 50’s are starting to realize that their parents need more help to do ‘normal’ tasks like grocery shopping, driving long distances, mowing the lawn or cleaning the house. Along with these physical tasks they may also be noticing a change in behaviour (angry outbursts, forgetfulness or sadness).
So what can be done?
According to Sinai Health Health Ageing and Geriatrics, some tips to prevent or manage mental illness are:
Remaining socially connected and active in the community
Engage in meaningful activities
Managing chronic health conditions
Remaining physically active
Maintaining a healthy diet
Keeping a regular sleep schedule
In general terms, it’s important to promote active and healthy living.
Free Resource
Managing Common Mental Health Conditions in Older Adults
Information for Older Adults, Families, and Caregivers
What the most common mental health conditions are
How to prevent common mental health conditions
How to manage common mental health conditions
Sinai Health / Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics
Connect with a community of care.
Talking through issues with others might help you gain new insight and lessen some of the stress that comes with taking care of elderly parents.
It is important to consider early interventions and recognize signs of mental, neurological and physical changes in older adults. However, when looking at the statistics surrounding mental health support for seniors it is apparent that there is a treatment gap. Two-thirds of seniors struggling with mental health problems do not receive the appropriate treatment. Research suggests that healthcare providers often mistake seniors' symptoms of depression as a natural reaction to life changes that occur as we transition to older ages.
But it is important to note that mental illness encompasses a broad range of illnesses that have an impact on mood, feelings, or thinking. It may be difficult to think clearly and regulate one's actions when suffering from a mental illness, making it difficult to look after oneself on a daily basis.
However, friends and loved ones who notice that a senior in their life is struggling with the adjustment to this stage of life can help them to reach out for support they (and you) need. In saying that, health-care providers, especially those in primary care, can play a central role in promoting mental health for seniors by working with families, mental health professionals, and communities to provide comprehensive mental health care and supportive environments.
Here are some local and national senior mental health services for you to consider:
SENIORS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
DUNDAS / HAMILTON
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton: Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Inpatient Program
Located at St. Joseph's West 5th Campus, 100 West 5th Street Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7
The purpose of this program is to support with complex mental health, dementia, behavioural complications and addictions within the senior population. The program provides specialized round the clock client care and assessment, with the goal to reintegrate seniors into an appropriate care setting within their community.
Dundas Community Services Friendly Calling
Located at 2 King St W Suite 3A, Dundas, ON L9H 6Z1
This program aims to support the independence of seniors and persons with disabilities in the Greater Hamilton area by enriching their social interactions and overall well-being.
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres - Life Long Care Program
This program services chronically ill, cognitively impaired, physically disabled, frail and elderly urban Indigenous people of all ages.
NATIONAL / CANADA
Mental Health Commission of Canada - Older Adults
Includes Mental Health First Aid Seniors - a course to increase the capacity of older adults and their families (informal caregivers), friends, care-setting staff, and communities to promote mental health.
Sinai Health - Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics
Includes resources and reliable information for older adults, caregivers, families and health care professionals on topics essential to healthy ageing. Health education resources are organized in four series: 1. Promoting health and wellness; 2. Community support and services; Diversity and aging; and Planning Care.
CCSMH - Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health
This organization works to promote seniors’ mental health by connecting people, ideas and resources for older adults and their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
This organization supports older Canadians from coast to coast, particularly those who face social and economic barriers. Through their programs, they support low income or marginalized older Canadians with resources and tools include accessing support services and providing accessibility and communication equipment.
This organization offers helpful resources including: caregiver stress resources; links to programs and services in Ontario for aging parents or seniors; and how to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner for your aging parent in Ontario.
Lifeline offers a “Complete Guide To Caring For An Elderly Parent’ which is also available as a free printable guide for download. In this Caregiver Guide, you will learn more about: taking care of ageing parents; transitioning from home to independent living; when to consider assisted living for an ageing parent; dealing with caregiver stress and fatigue; and long-distance caregiving and getting the right help.
We offer a community of care.
Whether you're facing a current challenge, a past pain, or are simply feeling stuck in this phase of your life, we can help you to live the life you want with intention, mindfulness and balance.
We offer free 15 minute consultations.
Connect with us and let’s talk about how we can help you.
SOURCES:
Mental Health Commission of Canada Older Adults
Sinai Health Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics Common Mental Health Conditions for Older Adults
HelpAge Canada Social Isolation and Loneliness
Statistics Canada Violence against seniors and their perceptions of safety in Canada
National Institute on Drug Abuse Substance Use in Older Adults Drug Facts
