1. Most prevalent disorders
Mental disorders in the elderly are frequently overlooked and undiagnosed. Depression and Alzheimer's disease top the list of mental illnesses that affect older adults. Often these illnesses go undetected. Seniors are either hesitant or uneducated about where to get the appropriate help they need to feel healthier and happier. Also, primary care doctors are not necessarily trained to detect psychological disorders. Research has indicated that primary care doctors frequently miss the diagnosis and attribute symptoms to the normal aging process.
2. Depression is not "normal"
Depression is not part of the normal aging process and can have dire circumstances, especially on white males over the age of 85, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Depression is one of the leading causes of suicide of white men over the age of 85 with a death rate of over 49 percent per 100,000. Seniors over the age of 65 represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, but represent over 16 percent of suicide deaths. Depression affects over 3 million American senior citizens.
3. Symptoms of depression
If your elderly parent is experiencing the following symptoms for longer than a two-week period encourage him to seek professional help. Depression is treatable, and once under control will allow for a better quality of life during the golden years.
* Markedly increase or decrease in sleep
* Loss or increase in appetite
* Unable to concentrate, loss of focus
* Unable to enjoy activities previously enjoyed
* Increase in irritability
* Feeling sad or tearful for most of the day
* Recurrent thoughts of death and suicide
4. Alzheimer's disease affects 5 million Americans
Occasional forgetfulness, referred to as age-related memory loss, is a part of getting older. Continued memory loss, however, that causes a decline in daily functioning could be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. For instance, you might forget where you left your car keys. However, a person with Alzheimer's forgets what his car keys are used for and forgets how to use them.
Alzheimer's, which is a form of dementia, affects approximately 5 million Americans, according to NIMH. Normally, Alzheimer's is diagnosed after the age of 60, but there is a rare form of the disease that affects people as young as 30. As people age the risk increases, with approximately 50 percent of 85-year-olds afflicted.
5. Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, and symptoms continue to debilitate the person until he is no longer able to care for himself. Most patients live with Alzheimer's for 8 to 10 years, but some can live for up to 20 years after diagnosis. Experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is a frightening feeling. Early detection will help improve the quality of life for a person suffering from Alzheimer's. Listed below are the most common symptoms.
* Noticeable memory lapses, especially forgetting recently learned information
* Forgetting where you live or your phone number
* Forgetting family and close friends' names
* Language decline, loss of commonly known words and phrases
* Have trouble remembering something you read minutes before
* Difficulty sleeping
* Agitated mood
* Forgetting how to do basic tasks like cooking dinner
* Depression
* Loss of common sense--walking in the snow in sandals
* Misplacing common items--putting a hammer in the freezer
If you suspect someone you love is suffering from one of these disorders, please seek professional help.
