Mental Health Issues In Nursing Home

The results of this project were derived from a series of interviews and surveys that were distributed among selected local health care institutions such as Assisted Livings, Nursing homes as well as group homes. Reports were also gathered from online sources such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration site. As America's population ages, the need for mental and behavioral health services continues to increase. Public Health professionals are playing a critical role in addressing this situation and part of this is to determine any correlation with lifestyle or socio-economic background.17 Psychologists are studying and treating the mental and behavioral problems associated with growing old, such as loss of spouse, loss

of mobility and independence, admittance to a long-term care facility and declining physical and sometimes mental health. Growing Mental and Behavioral Health Concerns Facing Older Americans have been tied to a combination of common symptoms leading to Alzheimer’s and depression.17It was also found out that most have been ill for a lengthy period and have suffered from a series of complex life problems such as poverty, homelessness, involvement in violent relationships, a history of child abuse, incidents of victimization through sexual or physical assault in adulthood, multiple periods of institutionalization, physical illness, and, sometimes, trouble with the law.16 The report provided below summarizes statistical data gathered through our survey.
Mental Health Concerns
Twenty percent of people over 55 suffer from a mental disorder, and two-thirds of nursing home residents exhibit mental and behavioral problems.

Yet, less than 3 percent of older adults report seeing a mental health professional for their problems.18Older Americans underutilize mental health services because of inadequate funding for mental health services; lack of collaboration and coordination among primary care, mental health and aging service providers; access barriers; stigma surrounding mental illness and treatment; denial of problems; and lack of trained professionals in the provision of geriatric mental health services.18Fear, distress, anger, stress, social support and relaxation have been shown to influence immune and cardiac functions, susceptibility to infection, pain, asthma and recovery from surgery.20 Please see Graph 1 and Graph

2.
Depression and Suicide
As many as 20 percent of older adults and up to 37 percent of nursing home residents suffer from depression, a condition that may lead to suicide.18 Symptoms of depression and anxiety in older Americans are overlooked and untreated because they often coincide with other medical illnesses or life events that commonly occur as people age (e.g., loss of loved ones).3Even though older Americans only make up 13 percent of the population, they account for 20 percent of the people who commit suicide. In fact, older Americans have the highest suicide rate of any age group.4Three-fourths of older adults who commit suicide have seen their physician in the past month.19 Graph 1 and 2
Alzheimer's disease and Dementia
Dementia, the irreversible deterioration of intellectual ability often accompanied by emotional disturbances, afflicts as many as 7 percent of Americans over the age of 65 and 30 percent over age 85.19 People with dementia often suffer from depression, paranoia and anxiety.19Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, affects between 2.6 to 4.5 million Americans age 65 and over.

It affects 12 million people worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to more than 22 million people by 2025.3 In fact, the number of Alzheimer's disease cases doubles every five years from age 65 to 85.18 Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's is becoming increasingly possible, due to the sensitive diagnostic tools developed by psychological and medical

scientists.
Substance Abuse
It was also determined that a good number of older adults with cognitive impairment have a history of substance or alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is a major problem for older Americans and is one of the eight leading causes of death for older persons. Five percent of older men and 1 percent of older women have alcohol abuse and dependency problems, which leads to a decline in cognitive functioning.19 Graph 1 and 2