As we grow older our bodies change – our physical health declines, which requires us to adapt to new lifestyles, become more dependent, and adjust to new health problems. This can often take a toll on one’s mental health.

In This Article

• Symptoms of Mental Health Issues in Older Adults
• Common Mental Health Issues in Seniors
• Impact on Caregivers and Loved Ones
• Steps to Take if You Suspect Mental Illness
• How Five Star Senior Living Can Help

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 20% of adults over the age of 50 experience issues with their mental health. The most common being anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Severe mental health conditions can often make it difficult to manage physical health. However, with effective treatments and practices, older adults can improve their overall health and quality of life.

Unfortunately, mental illness is often underdiagnosed and untreated in elderly patients, as it is more difficult to detect early signs of mental illness in older adults.

Symptoms of Mental Health Issues in Older Adults

Mental health conditions can manifest differently in seniors compared to younger individuals. Therefore, to seek the right type of help, it is important to first recognize the early symptoms of common mental health issues in older adults.

1. Behavioral Changes

Behavioral changes are generally the foremost and most noticeable sign of deteriorating mental health in seniors. You may start to notice slight changes in their behavior, it could even be as minor as a change of appetite or losing interest in their daily habits. Keep an eye on these early signs and report to a healthcare team to get a better insight.

These signs can include:

• Increased irritability over minor issues
• Withdrawing yourself from any sort of social interaction, like gathering, family or friends
• Losing interest in eating. You may start to notice noticeable weight loss or weight gain
• Having disturbances with sleep schedules. It can either be having difficulty sleeping/ resting or sleeping excessively

2. Cognitive Symptoms

Symptoms that are directly related to the functions of your brain are called cognitive symptoms. It is one of the most common mental illness symptoms in seniors.

Due to slight inoperable functions of the brain, you might notice:

• Memory loss
• Confusion with place, time, or name
• Difficulty in making even minor decisions
• Noticeable decline in attention span

3. Emotional Indicators

Emotional fluctuations are normal, but persistent or extreme emotions can be a cause for concern, especially for elderly people. Watch for signs like:

• Feeling down or hopeless most of the time
• Constant anxiety or worry about minor issues
• Rapid shifts between happiness and sadness
• A sense of despair or helplessness

4. Physical Symptoms

Mental health issues can sometimes show up as physical symptoms, especially in older adults. As they age, many seniors may find it harder to live as actively and fully as they once did. It’s important to watch for early signs such as:

• Unexplained aches and pains
• Changes in weight
• Neglect of personal hygiene

If you notice these signs persistently, it can be concerning; it’s best to get professional help.

Common Mental Health Issues in Seniors

Several mental health issues are particularly common among older adults. Roughly 14% of adults aged 60 and over live with a mental health condition according to the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study. Here are some common mental health issues reported in seniors:

Depression

Depression is widespread among seniors, affecting an estimated 7 million Americans aged 65 and older. Depression leaves severe impacts on the body, but depression in seniors can significantly impact the quality of life and alter the physical health of your loved ones.

Anxiety

Anxiety is the second most common mental health issue, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that it affects 3.8% of older adults.

Even though it is normal to have anxiety when aging, anxiety can significantly impair a senior’s ability to function and enjoy life.

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect seniors who have experienced traumatic events at any point in their lifetime. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, PTSD may present with additional signs such as flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened anxiety. Early detection is key, as it allows for more targeted treatments and better management of the condition.

Impact on Caregivers and Loved Ones

Caring for a senior with mental health issues can take a significant emotional and physical toll on caregivers and loved ones. The constant care and attention required can lead to burnout, stress, and a feeling of helplessness. It’s essential for caregivers to seek support and practice self-care to maintain their own well-being.

Steps to Take if You Suspect Mental Illness

If you suspect that a senior in your life is experiencing mental health issues, it is important to take prompt action. Here is how you can help your elders facing mental health issues:

Open Communication

Start by having an open and honest conversation with the senior about your concerns. Approach the topic with empathy and understanding, and encourage them to share their feelings.

Seek Professional Help

Consult with healthcare providers who can offer a proper diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment. This might include therapy, medication, or other interventions.

Utilize Resources

Make use of available resources such as support groups, counseling services, and senior living communities that prioritize physical and mental wellness. These programs can provide valuable information and support for both seniors and their caregivers.

How Five Star Senior Living Can Help

Five Star Senior Living can give the seniors in your life the support they need and the lifestyle they deserve. Discover Five Star’s EPIC Living to see how we prioritize the four pillars of wellness: emotional, physical, intellectual, and community.

We also provide invaluable resources and support for caregivers, including respite care and short-term stays, allowing caregivers to take necessary breaks and maintain their own health. If you or a loved one are facing mental health challenges, contact Five Star Senior Living to see how we can help. Our dedicated team is ready to improve the quality of life for seniors and their families.

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Who says the joy of learning comes to a halt as you age? In 2024, aging does not mean slowing down. It just means that you now have the freedom to explore more, learn more, and engage your mind to remain sharp and inspired.

As we age, we pay greater attention to our physical well-being. Whether it’s preventative care or seeking the right remedies and treatment for what ails us – but what about our intellectual well-being? Have you ever thought about how to keep your mind active and engaged as you age?

In This Article

• What is Intellectual Well-Being?
• The Benefits of Lifelong Learning for Seniors
• Ways to Enhance Intellectual Well-Being
• How Senior Living Communities Can Support Intellectual Well-Being
• EPIC Living at Five Star Senior Living

Let’s explore intellectual well-being and how you can keep your brain healthy!

What is Intellectual Well-Being?

First and foremost, what is intellectual well-being? Intellectual well-being, for people of all ages, is about engaging in creative activities that help you enhance your knowledge and skills. Intellectual well-being has several vital components:

Curiosity:

Curiosity is about maintaining a sense of wonder and a desire to learn about new topics. It keeps the mind active and working. You’re never too old to be in awe.

Critical Thinking:

Analyzing information, solving problems, and making informed decisions make up critical thinking. It helps the brain navigate daily life and accept change.

Creativity:

Creativity gives you a healthy outlet in the form of art, writing, or music to channel emotions, both positive and negative.

Lifelong Learning:

Keeping the brain up and working at all ages is essential, especially as you grow older. Continuously seeking out new knowledge and experiences helps maintain cognitive health and adaptability.

The Benefits of Lifelong Learning for Seniors

Our brain health declines as we age, leading to impaired cognitive health and various personality changes. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), staying intellectually active can enhance brain health, delay cognitive decline, and improve overall mental functioning.

Lifelong learning offers many benefits for seniors, such as keeping your cognitive health up and functioning.

Cognitive Benefits:

Lifelong learning or continuous learning helps improve memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Engaging in activities that stimulate cognitive health can slow the progression of cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia, as shown by research from NIA.

Emotional benefits:

Aging often leads to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Learning new skills and gaining knowledge fosters a sense of achievement. It keeps negative emotions at bay, enhancing self-esteem and emotional stability.

Social Benefits:

Lifelong learning often involves social interactions through classes, group activities, or discussions. These interactions help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Access to knowledge also allows you to participate in classes and discussions energetically.

Sense of Purpose and Fulfillment:

Lifelong learning allows you to pursue your passions and interests, making you feel more satisfied with your life.

Ways to Enhance Intellectual Well-Being

Who said that just because you’ve passed a certain age, you can’t train your mind to be sharp and active? Here are some fun, intellectual activities that will help you improve your intellectual well-being.

Reading:

This might sound old school, but this is one of the most effective ways to incorporate lifelong learning. You can read anything you like; it can be newspapers, novels, comics, nonfiction, poetry, you name it. Reading expands your knowledge and also helps you maintain concentration and focus.

Many Five Star Senior Living senior living communities have on-site libraries with great books to explore and even more comfortable places to read them.

Puzzles & Games:

It is said that an old man becomes a child again. Let’s bring that quote to life! Who says seniors can’t enjoy games? Apps and brain games like crossword puzzles, Sudoku, chess, or card games like bridge provide entertainment and keep those brain cells up and whirling.

Creative Hobbies:

Activities like painting, knitting, writing, or learning to play a musical instrument boost your creativity. They provide you with an outlet for self-expression and relaxation.

Learning New Skills:

There is no age to learn. Take up new skills like learning a new language, technology, gardening, or photography. It keeps you updated with the new generation while expanding your knowledge.

Social Interactions:

Activities like joining clubs, attending lectures, or participating in community events greatly boost your social presence. This banishes thoughts of loneliness and keeps you connected with like-minded individuals.

How Senior Living Communities Can Support Intellectual Well-Being

Senior living communities can be a game changer for those looking to thrive intellectually. By taking care of everyday tasks like cooking, housekeeping, and home maintenance, these communities relieve you of the stress of household chores. This gives you more time and energy to focus on enriching activities, such as lifelong learning and intellectual engagement.

You also get to interact with like-minded individuals and develop fruitful friendships. From offsite outings and onsite amenities many senior living communities provide the resources and social opportunities to help keep your mental, emotional, and intellectual health in check.

EPIC Living at Five Star Senior Living

At Five Star Senior Living, your well-being is always our top priority. One way we support this is through our EPIC Living program which focuses on the four pillars of well-being: Emotional, Physical, Intellectual, and Community.

Through the EPIC Living programs or programming our communities are able to actively nurture residents’ creativity and support their cognitive health. From educational workshops and lectures to book clubs and crafting classes, Five Star Senior Living keeps your mind sharp and engaged.

Ready to learn more? Find a Five Star Senior Living community near you to discover how EPIC Living can enhance your life! 

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As the most prevalent mental health condition in the United States, anxiety affects adults of all ages, but particularly seniors. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, up to 17% of adults 65 and older have an anxiety disorder diagnosis.

This doesn’t mean that only 17% of seniors experience anxiety, however. It’s extremely common for anxiety disorders to go undiagnosed, due to several factors including reluctance to discuss symptoms, lack of awareness that symptoms are present due to having experienced them for so long and interpreting them as ‘normal’, or symptoms being overlooked when focusing on the symptoms and medications of other co-occurring conditions. Because of this, experts estimate that the actual number of older adults suffering with anxiety is significantly higher.

Of older adults that do have an official anxiety disorder diagnosis, few are actually treated for it. According to a 2023 peer-reviewed journal, JAMA Psychiatry, only one third of adults 65 and older diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) receive any treatment for it. So unfortunately, while it is very ‘normal’ to experience anxiety as you age, thankfully it is treatable.

Table of Contents

• Causes of Anxiety in Older Adults
• “Normal” Anxiety vs Anxiety Disorder
• How Senior Living Communities Can Reduce Anxiety
• Prioritize Wellness with Five Star Senior Living

It’s important to recognize the root causes, signs, and symptoms of anxiety in older adults, and get proper treatment. Let’s take a closer look at anxiety in older adults and how it can be managed.

Causes of Anxiety in Older Adults

Anxiety in older adults can have many different causes, some related to physical health and others more situational. Here are some common causes of anxiety in older adults:

Phobias – phobias, or pronounced irrational fears centered around specific things, are an extremely common form of anxiety and affect people of all ages. Common phobias include heights, being in a closed-in space or a very wide open space, flying, insects, or driving on the highway, among others. Phobias more common in older adults include the fear of death, fear of bad things happening to their loved ones, and fear of medical or dental procedures.

Social Anxiety – It can be nerve-wracking to attempt to be a social butterfly if you’re typically more introverted. Social anxiety takes this common nervousness a step further. For older adults with social anxiety, they may fear that they’ll do or say something embarrassing in a group of people due to factors related to their age. This fear of judgment and ostracization by others is often more pronounced if they have a medical condition that affects their memory or their physical appearance.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) – PTSD has been commonly associated with war veterans, and many seniors are veterans of major world wars. In actuality, PTSD affects people of all ages and walks of life. Any trauma in one’s lifetime can develop into PTSD under certain conditions, and symptoms can sometimes take years, even decades, to surface.

Family History of Anxiety – While environmental factors are certainly a contributing factor to the development of anxiety disorders, there is evidence to suggest that some psychiatric disorders are heritable. A family history of anxiety disorders increases the likelihood of a senior experiencing anxiety themselves.

Medication Side-Effects – As we age, we’re more likely to acquire medical conditions that require prescription management. Prescription medications often carry side effects of varying severity, and anxiety and its physical manifestations (night sweats, palpitations, shortness of breath) is a common side effect of many medications.

Health and environmental conditions – When an older adult is living with a physical illness or is under financial stress, this can significantly contribute to feelings of anxiety. Fearing things like loss of mobility or independence, worrying about money, grieving the death of a loved one or friend, experiencing memory issues or chronic pain, and worrying about end-of-life planning are all very common and reasonable contributing factors to anxiety in the elderly.

“Normal” Anxiety vs Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is a natural feeling that everyone experiences from time to time, and is actually beneficial for certain situations. An anxiety response helps notify us of a real danger, gauge a level of threat, or keep ourselves alert when doing something risky or important.

When these responses in the body and brain are triggered by situations that aren’t truly threatening, or when these feelings are prevalent enough that they interfere with daily living and quality of life, this is when it’s worthwhile to seek guidance from a mental healthcare provider to explore the possibility of an official anxiety disorder diagnosis.

Normal feelings of anxiety may be breaching into anxiety disorder territory if you experience the following regularly, for prolonged periods or at extreme levels:

• Feeling irritable or having angry outbursts
• Feeling restless, antsy, on edge, like something “bad” is going to happen (this is often referred to as an impending sense of doom)
• Struggling with concentration – forgetting words or losing your train of thought
• Difficulty making decisions
• Feeling like you’re constantly worrying, or that your worrying is interfering with work, school, or interpersonal relationships
• Feeling like worries are all-consuming, upsetting, or difficult to control
• Physical symptoms like sweating, shaking, trembling, tense muscles, tension headaches, or gastrointestinal upset
• Difficulty sleeping – either having trouble falling/staying asleep despite feeling very tired, or sleeping too much to ‘escape’ your worries and thoughts
• Experiencing panic attacks
• Developing compulsive behaviors in order to attempt to control worries and fears
• Experiencing catastrophic thinking or ‘black-and-white’ all-or-nothing thinking
• You find yourself turning to unhealthy distractions to numb your worried thoughts – excessively playing games, indulging in substances like alcohol or overeating

How Senior Living Communities Can Reduce Anxiety

Living in a senior living community helps older adults combat anxiety in several different ways:

Built-in Community of Support and Friendship

Feelings of isolation and spending a lot of time alone create a breeding ground for anxious thoughts and anxiety’s common comorbidity – depression. In senior living communities, a sense of community and social engagement is fostered through common spaces like community dining rooms, clubs and activities, and caring and attentive staff that help ensure residents are feeling as involved as they’d like to be in the community.

Maintaining Independence

Independent living communities are created to support as much independence as possible for seniors. From accessible living spaces, to senior fitness classes to promote mobility, to built-in security and on-demand maintenance, living in an independent living community can help put anxieties about losing independence to rest.

Safety First

For older adults feeling anxious about falling and hurting themselves or experiencing a medical emergency while alone, senior living communities provide immense peace of mind. With staff available 24/7, buildings designed with safety in mind, and access to additional supportive services like physical therapy and senior wellness programs, this allows residents to put their minds at ease.

Enrichment Activities and Visits with Loved Ones

Staying active and keeping the mind engaged helps to sharpen cognitive skills and soothe anxiety. Senior living communities provide regular mind-stimulating activities like board games, language learning classes, and book clubs, and also supports socio-emotional wellbeing by offering special events for loved ones to participate in, and of course, regular visits with family and friends.

Prioritize Wellness with Five Star Senior Living

Aging doesn’t have to cause anxiety. At Five Star Senior Living, our Lifestyle360 program focuses on all areas of health – emotional, physical, intellectual, and community. Taking a holistic approach to senior wellness enables our residents to live their best lives and combat the most common sources of anxiety in older adults. To get started on your journey to a healthy, stress-free senior lifestyle, find a Five Star Senior Living community near you.

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