Geriatric Psychological Issues

As people get older, it is not only their bodies that are affected by the aging process, but their minds also. There are a number of mental health problems which elderly people are vulnerable to and like the physical ailments of old age, geriatric psychological disorders can be both debilitating and life-threatening, if left unnoticed or untreated.

Dementia

• Dementia is the gradual decline in a person's mental ability, says the Hamlet Trust. It is caused by damage to the neurons in the brain which can take place as a person ages. Dementia is a disease which affects elderly people almost exclusively, with approximately one in twenty people over 65 developing the disease. This statistic rises to one in four, over the age of 85. Symptoms of dementia include short-term memory loss which reduces their ability to perform everyday tasks. It also induces restlessness, confusion, agitation and disturbed sleep. There is no known cure for dementia, but psychological therapies and activities which keep the brain active -- like puzzles -- have been shown to slow down the onset of dementia.

Depression

• Depression affects more than 6.5 million people over the age of 65, according to the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation (GMHF). Depression impacts upon a person's mental, emotional and physical well-being, causing symptoms like insomnia, loss of appetite, low energy levels and suicidal thoughts. The condition in elderly people may manifest itself differently in the elderly than it does in younger adults, says GMHF, leaving older people at risk of it being left unnoticed or untreated. Elderly people are more likely to experience disturbed sleep, longer periods of depression and are at the greatest risk of suicide. There is no one cause for depression in later life, but it is more likely to occur in women, widowed people, those that are isolated and lack a strong support network and those suffering from dementia. Late-life depression can be treated with psychotherapy, which encourages people to talk about their feelings and work through issues in a safe and open environment, combined with anti-depressant medication to restore the balance of chemicals in the brain.

Delirium

• Delirium is a sudden state of mental confusion which is common in elderly people who react badly to certain medications, treatments and infections like urinary tract infections, says Estronaut. Delirium is characterised by a sudden loss of ability to concentrate or shift their attention, impaired consciousness and judgment of reality -- and a reduction or slowing down of brain activity. Symptoms usually appear very quickly and might fluctuate throughout the course of the day, adds Estronaut. The condition can be diagnosed via an EEG (electroencephalogram) which will show a slowing down of brain activity. A medication called Haloperidol can help to reduce the symptoms.

Psychosis

• Psychosis is a mental health condition that disturbs a person's mood, behaviour and thought processes. Sufferers of psychosis might experience delusions and hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety, disturbed sleep and depression. Although it is a rare psychological disorder, psychosis can affect the elderly and the effects and treatment differ to younger sufferers, says the Hamlet Trust. For example, older patients are more likely to become depressed than younger patients when dealing with an episode of psychosis, so the need to treat the depression is higher in geriatric cases, says Estronaut.