Older Adults with Mental Illness

Depression

100

Depression is not a normal part of aging? True or False?

True - Depression is not a normal part of aging. Yet depression is a widely under recognized and under treated medical illness.

200

Depression often co-occurs with other serious illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and Parkinson's disease. True or False?

True

300

Because many older adults face these illnesses as well as various social and economic difficulties, health care professionals may mistakenly conclude that depression is a normal consequence of these problems — an attitude often shared by patients themselves. True or False?

True - These factors together contribute to the under diagnosis and under treatment of depressive disorders in older people. Depression can and should be treated when it co-occurs with other illnesses, for untreated depression can delay recovery from or worsen the outcome of these other illnesses.

400

In 2006, 14.22 of every 100,000 people age 65 and over died by suicide, higher than the rate of 11.16 per 100,000 in the general population. Non-Hispanic white men age 85 and over are at the greatest risk for suicide, with a rate of 49.8 suicide deaths per 100,000. True or False?

True - Depression is a major risk factor for suicide with older adults.

Global Issues

100

Globally, the population is ______ rapidly

What is aging - It is projected that the number of persons aged 60 or over is expected to more than triple by 2100. The world’s population is aging rapidly. Between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world's older adults is estimated to double from about 11% to 22%. In absolute terms, this is an expected increase from 605 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60.

200

Approximately 15% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a ___________.

What is mental disorder

300

Older adults with depressive symptoms have poorer functioning compared to those with chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, hypertension or diabetes. True or False?

True - Depression also increases the perception of poor health, the utilization of medical services and health care costs

Dementia

100

Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday activities. It mainly affects older people, although it is not a normal part of aging. True or False?

True

200

It is estimated that 35.6 million people worldwide are living with dementia. True or False?

True - The total number of people with dementia is projected to almost double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050, with majority of sufferers living in low- and middle-income countries.

300

There are significant social and economic issues in terms of the direct costs of medical, social and informal care associated with dementia. True or False?

True - Physical, emotional and economic pressures can cause great stress to families.

400

People with dementia often suffer from depression, paranoia and anxiety. True or False?

True - Psychologists’ skills in differential diagnosis and treatment are helpful in these complex cases. Psychologists also teach behavioral and environmental strategies to caregivers of those with dementia to deal with these common behaviors.

Can Do It?

100

Is support needed from the health, social, financial and legal systems for both people with dementia and their caregivers?

YES! We need to help not only the client but the family as well.

200

Is it important to prepare health providers and societies to meet the specific needs of older populations?

YESS!!!! We need training for health professionals in old-age care. Preventing and managing age-associated chronic diseases including mental, neurological and substance use disorders. Designing sustainable policies on long-term and palliative care and developing age-friendly services and settings.

300

Will Medications alone fix all adults with mental illness?

Hell No!!!! A person with depression can be treated in several ways. The most common treatments are medication and psychotherapy working together There is no medication currently available to cure dementia but much can be done to support and improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers and families such as... early diagnosis to promote early and optimal management optimizing physical and psychological health, including identifying and treating accompanying physical illness, increasing physical and cognitive activity and optimizing well-being detecting and managing challenging behavioral and psychological symptoms providing information and long-term support to caregivers.

We Can Do It!!!

100

Mental health of older adults can be improved through promoting active and healthy aging. True or False?

True - We need to make sure we are offering these to our older adults. providing security and freedom adequate housing through supportive housing policy social support for elderly populations and their caregivers health and social programs targeted at vulnerable groups such as those who live alone, rural populations or who suffer from a chronic or relapsing mental or physical illness violence or older adults maltreatment prevention programs community development programs

200

Community-level primary mental health care for older people is crucial. True or False?

True - It is equally important to focus on the long-term care of older adults suffering from mental disorders, as well as to provide caregivers with education, training and support.