Movies and TV shows often feature older adults enjoying retirement without a care in the world or depict them as frail, empty versions of their youthful selves. However, real-life older adulthood is just as complex and varied as life at any age. That richness extends to your mental health, too. The life experiences you bring into older adulthood, your overall health and your support system are all critical factors in your mental health. Changes in daily life or physical health may raise your risk of developing mental health issues. Still, mental health conditions are not a normal part of aging. If you are age 65 or older, knowing the basics about mental health for older adults can help you stay healthy and enjoy your retirement years.
Mental Health 101
Your mental health is a combination of your emotional, psychological and social wellness. Mental health plays a role in connecting with others, dealing with stress, and managing emotions and behavior.
Your mental health is influenced by:
- Brain chemistry
- Genetics
- Family mental health history
- Life experiences
- Physical health
- Substance abuse
- Medication side effects, especially when on multiple medications
Everyone experiences stress and a range of emotions throughout their lifetime. However, if your anxiety, negative self-talk, sadness or worry feels greater than your ability to carry it, you may be experiencing a mental health issue.
Mental health issues are very common and affect about 20 percent of Americans yearly. A mental health issue does not necessarily mean that you have a mental health condition, also called a severe and persistent mental illness. Many people without a mental illness experience temporary mental health issues or periods of poor mental health.
About five percent of Americans live with severe and persistent mental illness. These conditions significantly impact a person’s ability to participate in everyday activities. They may also require ongoing medical treatment. Mental illnesses are often chronic, meaning they last a year or more. Still, they may come and go or vary in severity over time. With treatment, people with mental illnesses frequently live full, productive lives.
Early diagnosis and treatment lead to better outcomes if you have a mental health issue or mental illness. Many treatments are available for temporary mental health issues and severe and persistent mental illnesses. Talk therapy is a common treatment for both. Several medications are also available to help treat short-term and long-term mental health issues or conditions.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health in Later Life
There are many things you can do to promote positive mental health in later life:
- Exercise regularly
- Learn how to cope with everyday stress
- Manage physical health conditions
- Talk to your provider about managing medication side effects
- Meditate or practice mindfulness
- Participate in a religious or spiritual community
- Play brain games or do puzzles
- Spend time with friends and family members
- Stay active in hobbies
- Volunteer
If you are a caregiver for your spouse or another family member, remember that caring for yourself is also vital to your mental health. To decrease caregiver burden:
- Ask adult children or other family members for help
- Check out elder support services near you
- Consider in-home paid caregivers
- Find an adult day care center or PACE program for your loved one
- Take steps to support your mental health
Life Transitions, Mental Health and Aging
Older adulthood often brings life transitions that may affect your mental health. Even positive changes, like retirement, can add stress as you get used to your new normal. Other common life changes that can affect your mental health include:
- A health event, such as a heart attack or stroke
- Becoming a caregiver for a spouse or grandchildren
- Being unable to drive
- Changes in your financial situation
- Downsizing to a smaller home or moving into a senior living community
- Newly diagnosed chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease
- The death of a spouse or other close friends or family members
For many, these changes can bring grief, loneliness or sadness. These are normal responses. And it can be healthy to allow yourself these feelings without judgment. However, it is not healthy to remain stuck in these negative feelings.
Older adults who experience long-term grief, loneliness or sadness may be experiencing depression. They also have a greater risk of cognitive decline, developing dementia and social isolation, frequently leading to a decline in physical health. Experiencing social isolation may make a person more vulnerable to elder abuse too.
People who have experienced discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender may be at a higher risk of social isolation in older adulthood.
Older Adults Living with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
If you are an older adult with a long-term mental health condition, aging may cause changes in your symptoms or the treatment you need. Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions among older adults. Other mental health conditions include:
- Bipolar disorder, also called bipolar depression
- Anxiety disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
It is essential to continue treatment for severe and persistent mental illness as you age. Even if you have been managing your condition well, changes due to aging may cause changes in your mental health condition or the effectiveness of your treatment. If you notice an increase or change in your symptoms, talk with your provider to ensure you get the proper treatment for this stage of your life.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also pose challenges for older adults. Many veterans and others with PTSD find that their symptoms may worsen after retirement. PTSD may also appear for the first time in older adulthood, even if the trauma happened decades ago. There are several reasons this may occur, including having fewer distractions that keep you from thinking about past events. If you have or think you may have PTSD, talking with a behavioral health expert can help.
Dementia and Mental Health
Dementia and mental illnesses can have overlapping symptoms. For example, some types of dementia, like Lewy body dementia, can cause hallucinations similar to those caused by some mental illnesses. Still, dementia is not a mental illness. It is also not a normal part of aging. Instead, dementia is a condition that affects the ability to think, problem-solve and remember. People with severe and persistent mental illness may be more likely to develop dementia.
There are several types of dementia, including vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common type. The effects and symptoms of dementia vary depending on the type. The severity of dementia symptoms also depends on the stage of Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
People who have a new diagnosis of dementia may experience mental health issues after receiving the news. Helping to plan for the future while they are still able may help decrease fears and help improve the mental health of people with a new dementia diagnosis.
Changes in the ability to communicate with others or participate in everyday activities may lead to mental health issues at later stages of dementia. Still, those with dementia can have positive mental health. People at an early stage of dementia will be able to take a more active role in their mental health than people at later stages. Caregivers and medical providers can also help support the mental health of people with dementia.
Mental Health Support
Help is available for older adults struggling with their mental health. A mental health specialist or behavioral health specialist can talk with you about your concerns or symptoms and work with you to find the best treatment options for you.
If you or a loved one is thinking about suicide or harming yourself or others, call 9-8-8 immediately to talk with someone at the Suicide & Crisis Hotline.
If you are a veteran or a family member of a veteran, reach out to the Veteran Crisis Line by dialing 9-8-8 and then pressing 1.
Medically reviewed by Jennifer Redding, LCSW-C, Executive Director of the Klein Family Center.
