Checking in on your elderly relatives can be important to make sure that they are not struggling with health problems. This includes not just physical health problems, but mental health problems. A lot of older people develop dementia, depression or anxiety. Without support, your senior loved ones could be at risk of harming themselves. As we get older, many of us get too proud to ask for help. This is why it’s important to stay in regular contact and look out for the signs of mental illness – and not just wait for our elderly relatives to reach out to us.
Dementia
Dementia causes the brain to deteriorate – resulting in memory loss, changes in personality and loss of regular functions. You can usually tell if someone is experiencing early stage dementia because they will become more forgetful and less organised. They may repeat themselves a lot, forget people’s names/faces, get lost in familiar places or regularly forget important items like their phone or keys.
There is unfortunately no cure for dementia. However, by encouraging your loved one to get a diagnosis early, it may be possible to slow down the disease through medication and lifestyle changes. At the very least, an early diagnosis could allow you to prepare better for later stages. A lot of people with dementia need professional at-home care assistance and may later need to be moved into care homes eventually. However, you or another relative may be able to provide this care in the early stages.
Depression
As we get older, we lose more friends and relatives. On top of this, we may lose the freedom to engage in certain activities and interests due to health problems. This can leave many older people feeling lonely and trapped – which can lead to depression. People can display depression in different ways, however you can usually tell if older loved ones are depressed as they may become withdrawn and stop caring about their appearance.
Try to be there for your loved ones if you think they are depressed, and help them to be more social or engage in activities they may not be able to by themselves due to their physical health. This could include going on days out or bringing the family to them. There are therapists out there that specialise in depression in old age that could also be worth looking into.
Anxiety
Anxiety in old age is often brought on by other health problems. Your senior loved ones may become irrationally scared of going outside alone if they have mobility issues, or may fear social situations if they have hearing loss that makes it hard to follow conversations. Some fears may be rational such as no longer wanting to drive because of health problems. However, you need to look out for irrational fears that could get worse and hold your loved ones back.
It may be possible to help loved ones overcome anxiety by encouraging them to find solutions to other health problems. This could include encouraging them to use a mobility scooter or getting them to wear a hearing aid. A therapist may be needed for more serious cases of anxiety.
