Strong mental health is essential for the elderly because it affects how they think, feel, act, and manage daily activities and life in general. Therefore, family caregivers need to do everything possible to boost their aging loved ones’ mental health, including knowing what’s factual and what’s not. Below you’ll find some of the common myths related to elderly mental health and the truth behind each one.
1. Seniors with Mental Health Disorders Are Always Violent
Mental health problems can cause irrational thinking and reactions, but it doesn’t mean all seniors will be violent. Many seniors withdraw, avoid social outings, and feel hopeless and sad when they develop mental health issues. However, not all of them will lash out physically. Violence isn’t routine, and family caregivers should never accept this type of behavior. Instead, find positive ways to calm your loved one down, such as redirecting his or her attention to something enjoyable or leaving the room for a few moments.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Home Care Assistance for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Medication Is the Only Treatment
Many seniors living with mental health problems can find peace and enhance their mood without prescribed medication. Joining a support group, receiving massage therapy, and developing a manageable self-care plan are just some of the many ways your loved one can boost his or her mental health and possibly avoid the need for medication. The objective is to determine why your loved one is feeling lonely, depressed, or sad and develop a plan to combat these problems now and in the future.
Maintaining a high quality of life can be challenging for some seniors, but professional caregivers can help them obtain this goal. Families can trust Tucson home care service experts to help their elderly loved ones focus on lifestyle choices that increase the chances of living a longer and healthier life.
3. Mental Health Issues Prevent Working or Volunteering
Although mental health issues can impact your loved one’s thought processes and actions, it doesn’t prevent him or her from carrying out regular work or volunteering. It may be best to reduce the number of hours your loved one dedicates to a job or volunteer position. Speak with people where your parent works or volunteers about creating a flexible schedule for him or her. The flexibility allows your loved one to do as much as he or she would like on certain days instead of committing to specific times and days each week.
4. Mental Disorders Only Affect Widows & Widowers
Living with their spouses for most of their lives can make it difficult for elderly men and women to imagine living alone. However, you can help your parent manage loss by developing positive techniques that boost mental health and reduce stress and harmful thinking. One strategy would be to seek therapeutic help for your loved one. A professional therapist can talk with your loved one and provide the advice he or she needs to maintain a positive outlook, particularly on special days such as anniversaries and birthdays.
5. Poor Mental Health Comes with Aging
Mental health problems aren’t a normal part of life for any age group, including seniors. Older adults living with these issues need immediate treatment, and family caregivers should never shrug them off. Your loved one should see his or her primary care physician, who can give more insight into the causes and develop a mental illness recovery plan for your loved one. Although going through ups and downs is normal with aging, giving up on life isn’t.
Some family caregivers may find it challenging to carve out the time to help their loved ones get the help they need to live happy and healthy lives. Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Tucson seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Home Care Assistance. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call (520) 276-6555 today.