Upload
alfonso-hasudungan
View
73
Download
3
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly for Presentation (
Citation preview
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I)
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
2
Introduction
The health of the elderly:
In most countries, as physical health improves, people are living longer
The average number of years that person may expects to live is now well over 60.
It means a longer life to share, learn, experience and contribute
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
3
As people grow older their bodies and minds more vulnerable to certain health problems
Social life changes. People retire from regular work & earn less than
they used to.
Their daily routine changes. Their children become adults and may leave the
home and start their own family.
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
4
For most elderly people old age is a positive and rewarding period:
It is a period in which to enjoy grandchildren.
It is a time to read a book or do things that could not be done during working years.
It is a period to spend time with friends.
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
5
The mental health problems faced by elderly that may cause them suffer from mental illnesses
Loneliness
Physical health
Brain disease
Financial difficulties
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
6
Loneliness
In many places, joint family systems are giving way to smaller families.
More and more elderly people are living alone with little support from their children.
Loneliness is an especial difficulty when an elderly person loses a spouse
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
7
Physical health
Some elderly people develop physical health problems that cause disability (examples: arthritis, heart or lung disease)
These problems limit what the person can do and make him increasingly dependent on the others
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
8
Brain disease
Some type of brain disease especially dementia & stroke are commoner in elderly people
By affecting the brain they can lead to mental illness
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
9
Financial difficulties
Elderly people generally do not work
They are therefore reliant on pensions and savings, which, in a world of rising cost, may be inadequate
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
10
Condition that often cause elderly may behave unusually
There are four type of main mental disorders in the
elderly: Depression Delirium or confusion Psychosis Dementia
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
11
Case:
Elder was a 70-year-old retired engineer who was living with his wife who was 55-year-old.
The only son was working abroad and only see him once a year.
Over the past few years Elder had become increasingly withdraw from social activity, poor sleep, being suspicious, sometimes agitated, confusion, looking sad and forgetfulness.
His condition made his wife become boring therefore she often joint many activities that worsen Elder condition moreover after he has low back pain
The only thing that made Elder looking better was when he meet his friends in senior gathering program or if his friends visited him
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
12
Depression
Depression is the commonest mental illness in older people
The common feature of depression in elderly people are:
withdraw from everyday life activities, loss of appetite, poor sleep, & physical complaint
Some can become agitated & suicidal
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
13
Delirium or Confusion
Usually occurs as a result of medical problems or medicines
The typical feature of delirium: it is acute, the disturbed behavior will have begun in the
past few days.
The person may be: hallucinating & agitated
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
14
Psychosis
Psychosis is a condition when someone has no insight & it is showed by an un-ability to differentiate between real and fantasy or has very disorganized thought or behavior
Severe mental disorders in the elderly can rise to suspicious thoughts & hallucinations
Psychosis can also occur in elderly people who suffer from dementia
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
15
Dementia
Mainly affect older people especially > 65 y
The earliest symptoms is memory problem
Usually the illness comes to the notice of the family or health worker because of the disturbed behavior
Is a disease where the brain gradually degenerates
No cure
Will gradually get worse & die within as few years.
The commonest cause: Alzheimer’s disease & strokes
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
16
Deciding what’s wrong
There are two important diagnostic decisions you must take: First you need to tell the difference between the four
conditions that can cause disturbed behavior
Sometimes, two of these conditions can occur together: Dementia and delirium or confusion; and dementia & psychosis.
The first priority is to ensure that the person is not confused, because delirium can be life-threatening and often treatable
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
17
Deciding …… (cont)
There are two……. (cont) : Once this is excluded, and if you are in doubt, treat the
person as if depressed. If the person was depressed they would recover; if not you would not have harm them.
Only if the person is neither depressed nor confused should you consider the possibility of dementia. Sometimes it is necessary for the elderly person to be seen by a mental health specialist to make the correct diagnosis. Brain scan may also help in detecting dementia
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
18
Deciding …… (cont)
There are two ……. (cont) :
Second, if it is dementia, make sure that there is no treatable medical condition that is causing it
The main ones to think of are: Thyroid disease Head injuries that cause slow bleeding inside the head AIDS (in younger people) Vit. B 12 Deficiency Chronic liver or kidney disease Brain cancer
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
19
Treatment
The principal of the treatment:
1. based on the main problems of the elderly Loneliness
Physical health
Brain disease
Financial difficulties
2. holistic approached and
3. appropriate to health systems
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
20
Based on the main problems of the elderly
Loneliness Improve interpersonal relationship some issues:
Lives in the family with home care or lives in home for the elderly
Alliance for the elderly with activities such as: Routine gathering Sports etc
Social worker
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
21
Financial difficulties
some issues: insurance special budget for conducting program for the
elderly fulfilling basic needs with programs such as:
Empowering skill for increasing income subsidize
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
22
Physical health
recognize the common physical health
problems of the elderly some issues: promotion, prevention, cure & rehabilitation
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
23
Brain disease
recognize the common brain disease of
the elderly some issues: promotion, prevention, cure & rehabilitation
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
24
Holistic approached
Mental health problems of the elderly influenced by some factors such as:
Economic Housing Social, etc
should involve interdisciplinary need prompt coordination
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
25
Refer to mental health systems
Primary health system: Establish in every village Close to the community Has successful experience in dealing with other health
programs (mother & child program): Capacity building for primary health personnel & key
person volunteer (cadres)
Community based program for the elderly: Involve community actively who understand their problems &
potency: Programs should be planned, managed evaluate by the
elderly
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
26
Note: Caring for the elderly
Most elderly people live healthy lives and are mentally able.
If elderly person appears withdrawn or has memory problems, always make sure that it is not depressed or suffering from dementia.
Keeping regular contact with elderly people provides an excellent opportunity to support them and to detect mental problem early on.
Common Mental Health Problems in the Elderly (part I) mahar
27
Elderly person need about half the dose that prescribe to younger adult
Too much medicine may cause confusion
Elderly person need sufficient supervision