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Eldercare Review | Friday, April 08, 2022
Several mental health problems can be successfully treated, irrespective of age.
FREMONT, CA: Older people can develop all common mental health problems: depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance application disorders, and others.
Moreover, many older people are also dealing with emotional problems that all too commonly come with age:
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The death of a spouse or close friend
Switching roles in retirement
A smaller income
Aloneness
Changes in a living conditions
Many also deal with numerous physical health problems, which can add to mental health issues.
Getting a proper diagnosis is the first stage of effective treatment. When you see a mental healthcare provider, they'll assess you for typical mental health conditions. They'll also thoroughly assess dementia (along with Alzheimer's disease), other cognitive problems, and medical conditions like hypertension, coronary artery disease, vitamin deficiencies, kidney disease, and diabetes.
We'll also take a good look at all the medications you take. General health conditions and some medications can cause signs that look like mental health problems. Sometimes, a simple medication adjustment or treatment for a physical issue can better mental health.
If you require treatment for a mental health condition, we have numerous options: individual and group counseling, partial hospitalization programs, and inpatient hospitalization stays. Many programs have been designed particularly for the older person's demands.
Several people find group counseling and educational programs particularly helpful, as they allow older people—usually separated from others in the community—to get backing from their peers and form new social bonds. Some groups focus on issues such as aging, depression and loneliness, grief support, handling family dynamics, the consequences of drugs and alcohol, and stress lowering.
Case managers at some facilities can also aid people in accessing other community services, like transportation and meal help.
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