1. Mental Health Issues in Later Life
WELLNESS AND PREVENTION

2. What is “Normal Aging”? Two groups:
Those with disease
Those with “normal” health
Society has a widespread belief, however, that physical and mental declines are inevitable as we age.

3. Successful Aging Low risk of disease and disease-related disability
High mental and physical functioning
Active engagement with life
The combination of these three factors constitute the essence of successful aging
(Rowe and Khan)

4. A Long and Healthy Life Common-sense practices Don't smoke
Don't drink too much
Eat a healthy diet
Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day
Get regular checkups and screenings
Wear seat belts and take other safety precautions

5. Other Factors for Successful Aging
Attitudes and actions can transform our lives
Lifelong learning
Active involvement
A hopeful outlook

6. Caring for Yourself Maintain a positive outlook on life
Take good care of your health
Remain active
Stay in close contact with family and friends
Eat right
Remain mentally active
Know what you believe

8. Mental Health Issues in Later Life
Maintaining Emotional Health

9. Terms to Describe a Healthy Emotional State
Mental Health
Emotional Health
Mental Wellness
Emotions Wellness
Standard definitions of these terms are difficult to find

10. Elements of Mental Wellness Definitions
Statistical normality
Observations of one older adult's ability to function compared to others
The degree to which mental disorders respond to treatment
An idealized image of continued contribution, growth and functioning, sometimes labeled successful aging

11. Definitions of Mental Wellness
A measure of personal life satisfaction and quality of life that affects the older individual and the community (
“Striking a balance in all aspects of your life – social, physical, spiritual, economic, mental” (

12. Definitions of Mental Wellness (continued)
Successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity… mental health is the springboard of thinking and communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self esteem (

13. A Healthy Mind is Important
Good mental health can help you
Enjoy life more
Handle difficult situations
Stay better connected to your loved ones
Keep your body strong
Save money on healthcare expenses
Live longer
(DHHS publication No. [SMA] , 2001)

14. Maintaining Emotional Health
Most older adults enjoy good mental health
Emotional, mental, and physical health are all connected
A healthy mind is as important as a healthy body, and should be given the same attention!

15. Sleep Sleep is an important part of our ability to remember
Neuronal connections may be remodeled during sleep
Some memory tasks appear to be more vulnerable to sleep deprivation than others
Sleep deprivation may produce effects in the brain that resemble those associated with aging   
Evidence that sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation (

16. Stress Managing stress can affect one’s outlook on life
Not all stress is negative
Chronic stress takes a toll on the brain
In older persons, stress is thought to play a bigger role in triggering depression than in other groups

17. Managing Stress Eat regular healthy meals Avoid caffeine
Get enough sleep
Engage in some kind of regular physical activity
Recognize that there are some things you cannot control and focus your attention on the things that you can
Develop a sense of humor; put some fun back into your life by doing something you really enjoy every day
Use with handout #5

19. Mental Health Issues in Later Life
Staying Connected

20. Social Connection
Maintaining social connections is important to wellness in later life
Social relationships serve as a key source of informal support
Loneliness is a problem for many older adults

21. Retirement Take a slow exit Try a new job on a part-time basis
Share your job
Take a break
Volunteer

23. Mental Health Issues in Later Life
Dealing with Grief

24. Grief and Bereavement Losses are a part of everyone’s lives
As we age we accumulate more losses
Loss of a spouse is common in late life
About 800,000 older Americans are widowed each year
Elders’ expressions of grief are often shaped by their cultural values and beliefs

25. Grief and Loss Experiences
Anxiety or panic
40 percent of people who lose a spouse experience generalized anxiety or panic syndromes in the first year
Death
In the first six months after a loss, mortality among surviving spouses increases 40 to 70 percent compared with the general population.

26. Complicated Grief
Roughly 15 percent of people who have lost a loved one might be susceptible to “complicated grief”
a condition more severe than the average loss-related life transition, depression, and anxiety
Risk factors for complicated grief
Excessive dependency on the person who died
History of depression or anxiety
Sudden death of a loved one

27. Symptoms of Grief Depression Anxiety Substance abuse
Symptoms of “complicated” grief
searching, yearning, preoccupation with thoughts of the deceased, crying, disbelief regarding the death, feeling stunned by the death, and lack of acceptance of the loss.

28. Stages of Grief
Denial
Anger
Reactive Depression
Guilt
Acceptance

29. Coping with Grief Take care of your body Take care of your mind
Take care of your spirit