Positive prognosis for many seniors’ mental health, says geriatric psychiatrist
“People often consider cognitive decline to be a ‘normal’ part of the ageing process. In many cases, however, much can be done to support and improve the mental health and wellness of seniors.”
“While families tend to notice when children and younger adults experience mental health problems — in the elderly these are often mistakenly attributed to a decline associated with ageing and there is an unfounded belief that nothing can be done to improve their situation. As a result mental health problems in older individuals often go undiagnosed and untreated,” says Dr Ryan Fuller, who specialises in psychiatry for senior citizens.
“This is most unfortunate, as mental health problems in elderly people can in many instances be successfully managed. While dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are much more commonly associated with older age, it can be a mistake to assume that a loved one is experiencing memory loss and psychological distress as a normal part of their ageing process,” adds Dr Fuller, who has established multi-disciplinary psycho-geriatric MemoryCare units at both Akeso Parktown and Akeso Alberton in Johannesburg in association with fellow psychiatrist, Dr Lolita Mostert.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15% of adults aged 60 and over globally suffer from a mental disorder of some kind. Given the steadily increasing elderly population both internationally and in South Africa, Dr Fuller believes that there is a need for much greater awareness of this field of mental healthcare.
“Approximately half of the patients that we see at our psycho-geriatric MemoryCare units do not actually have dementia but rather are affected by other mental health challenges such as bereavement, depression anxiety and/or severe stress. These can all impact memory and even appear to present in a similar way to dementia. In many individuals these conditions can be managed and successfully treated to enable elderly individuals to enjoy an enhanced quality of life.
“For these reasons we strongly advise families to have their loved one properly assessed and diagnosed by a team of healthcare practitioners who are experienced and specialised in supporting mental health in the elderly,” notes Dr Fuller.
Mental health problems in the elderly
Asked what kinds of mental health problems affect the elderly, Dr Fuller said that they tend to be similar to those experienced by any other part of the population, and can include anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, bipolar depression, personality disorders, sleep disorders, and others.
Dementia, however, which is characterised by memory loss, and a deteriorating ability to perform daily activities due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, occur much more commonly in the elderly, and is considered a particularly important mental health challenge within this particular population.
“Among the many challenges that form part of old age psychiatry in particular, is that existing psychiatric disorders can be exacerbated by advancing dementia, making it difficult for doctors who are not experienced in geriatric care to reach an accurate diagnosis, and therefore to treat the conditions involved appropriately.”
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