Mental health is very important for seniors, particularly if they are living at home. A familiar environment is crucial for our elderly loved ones, especially if they are in the process of healing from surgery or chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease. However, the mental health of seniors is sometimes neglected. In this article, the home health care experts in Austin at Assisting Hands are going to discuss this issue in light of Mental Health Awareness Month, which is May.
What mental health issues do seniors face at home?
Social isolation represents one of the biggest challenges for seniors, even if they are healing at home.
Children and relatives may live far away. Seniors may not be as tech-savvy as younger generations that connect through phones and computers. Restricted mobility due to arthritis, reduced ability to hear, healing from hip replacement surgery, or frailty may all contribute to social isolation because your senior loved one cannot get out of the house as much or has difficulty communicating.
Loneliness and social isolation may be a factor in serious health conditions in seniors, including:
- Premature death
- Dementia
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicide
If family members don’t check on senior relatives on a regular basis, a trained caregiver from a home health agency such as Assisting Hands can help.
As such, we would like to remind our customers and clients that May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
What is Mental Health Awareness Month?
Sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health Awareness Month happens every year in May.
For seniors, May represents a season of change. The weather gets warmer, people can get outside more easily, and the fresh air is invigorating.
How can I participate in Mental Health Awareness Month?
You can participate in MHAM in several ways:
- Find resources on the NAMI blog.
- Interact on social media using the hashtag #MHAM.
- Relate personal stories about mental health that speak to others who may be going through what you did.
- Participate in local events and forums discussing mental health.
- Discuss any mental health concerns you may have about your senior relative with a professional caregiver.
Every year, NAMI has a theme for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Is mental health part of home health and home care services?
Absolutely yes.
Our caregivers are trained to identify signs of mental health issues in our patients. While not all nurses or caregivers are able to treat or diagnose mental illness, they can discuss what they see with you, your loved one, and the loved one’s care team to ascertain if further care is needed.
Signs of a change in mental health may seem like physical changes when they are possibly related to something emotional or psychological:
- Lack of sleep
- Not enjoying things that once brought happiness
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in personal hygiene
- Confusion or disorientation
- Depressed mood for more than two weeks
- Unexplained physical symptoms
Home Health Care in West Austin Can Help
The compassionate clinicians and home health aides in Austin here at Assisting Hands can help you or your senior loved one navigate what they need physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
If we see something that may need extra attention, we will let you and the care team know of our observations to see if further action is necessary.
Contact Assisting Hands Home Health Care in West Austin for more information!
