Studies show that the older population is on an upward trend. At the same time, depression rates among seniors also tend to grow with time, usually sitting at 2 to 10%. In geriatric patients housed in state institutions, the numbers can reach 30%. These are concerning figures, given the impact of depression, stress, and anxiety on the older population.
And that’s not the only problem. Another core issue is that these mental health disorders are more difficult to diagnose in older individuals compared to their younger counterparts. This explains why some physicians even misdiagnose them as somatic disorders, which leads to improper treatments and failure to address the actual problems.
Mental health degrades with time and there are a variety of aggravating factors along the way. The same disorders can manifest differently from one individual to the next, depending on their severity, the patient’s physiological map, their overall health status, etc.
Understanding how to recognize and treat these conditions fast and effectively is critical for the well-being of the ill.
Primary Risk Factors
There are many risk factors associated with a variety of mental health disorders. These include:
- Life stressors like family tragedies or moving into assisted care
- Prolonged chronic pain
- Decreased mobility and increased frailty associated with old age and illness
- Coronary arterial disease (often associated with depression)
- Sleep problems
- Lack of physical activity and daily exercise
- A history of mental disorders, making the patient prone to relapses
These risk factors can increase feelings like loneliness and isolation, further worsening the patient’s mental state. So, it’s important to detect the early signs of mental distress to address the problem in its earlier phases.
The Primary Signs
Depression comes with several foretelling signs. These may include:
- Anhedonia (losing interest in activities that once produced pleasure and interest)
- Visible changes in appetite (increased or decreased appetite beyond what’s normal for that patient specifically)
- Decreased concentration and increased difficulty to focus
- Memory problems, especially linked to short-term events (paying bills, remembering what they had for breakfast, etc.)
- Visible loss of energy and fatigue
- Psychomotor retardation (difficulties moving and performing normal tasks, especially among seniors)
- Too much or not enough sleep
- Paranoia and agitation
- A visible decline in their personal hygiene and overall house cleanliness
- The tendency to speak louder than normal, etc.
It’s important to note that many or even most of these changes won’t be visible when at the doctor’s office. This means that the primary caretaker should collaborate closely with the physician to map the patient’s symptoms accurately and devise an optimal treatment plan.
The Solution
Family members are the most qualified to participate in the treatment, because of their unique perspective on the matter. They know how the patient behaves at home, in their familiar and safe setting and can relate that to the expert.
As for the treatment itself, it should be multilayered. Screen patients for substance abuse and learn to differentiate between age-related and non-age-related mental decline. Seniors are already facing noticeable mental decline with age, which is a normal process. However, it takes a knowledgeable physician to distinguish between normal and abnormal behaviors and symptoms.
With offices in Miami, Miramar, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and West Palm Beach, Primary Medical Care Center is a leader in full-risk primary care, distinguished by its innovative philosophy and unique physician-led culture that delivers coordinated, world-class primary care to the most vulnerable populations, particularly moderate- to low-income seniors with complicated chronic diseases.