Report: Too little mental health care for seniors

[cbayer]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Getting older does not just mean a risk for physical ailments like heart disease and creaky knees: A new report finds as many as 1 in 5 American seniors has a mental health or substance abuse problem.

And as the population rapidly ages over the next two decades, millions of baby boomers may have a hard time finding care and services for mental health problems such as depression — because the nation is woefully lacking in doctors, nurses and other health workers trained for their special needs, the Institute of Medicine said Tuesday.

Instead, the country is focused mostly on preparing for the physical health needs of what has been called the silver tsunami.

"The burden of mental illness and substance abuse disorders in older adults in the United States borders on a crisis," wrote Dr. Dan Blazer of Duke University, who chaired the Institute of Medicine panel that investigated the issue. "Yet this crisis is largely hidden from the public and many of those who develop policy and programs to care for older people."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-07-10/aging-mental-health/56132426/1

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While I wish they would stop calling it "mental health" and call it psychiatric care, I am very glad to see this getting the attention it needs.

[Arctic Dave]

1. My other "mom" is having mental health issues

now, she has been gradually getting worse over the last year and we recently had to have her put under observation.

Another part of healthcare that I hope can be addressed.

[cbayer]

2. Don't know what your mom has, but Alzheimer's is going to be a huge issue

as the baby boomers age.

It could bankrupt the whole system if we don't begin to address it now.

Hope your mom is ok. It's heartbreaking, I know.

[Arctic Dave]

3. Most likely early stages of dementia.

The last few months has really gotten worse.

[cbayer]

5. I am so sorry to hear that.

One piece of good news is that there are some meds that are fairly effective in early stages.

I wish you my best, Arctic Dave.

[Arctic Dave]

11. Thank you. Nt

[cstanleytech]

12. My sympathies as well and I want to let you know that you are not alone as

my mother to is having "issues" so bet of luck to you and to everyone who has a parent that is experiencing or will experience this.

[LiberalEsto]

4. There is too little mental health care for anyone

Community mental health services were never even remotely adequate. In recent years they've been cut back repeatedly.
Just when the need is most severe, with so many people depressed, out of work, losing their homers...

[cbayer]

6. Could not agree more.

Psychiatric patients and those that treat them have been treated abysmally in the current system.

And it's only going to get worse.

Even with this IOM report, I don't expect a rapid or sufficient response.

[Posteritatis]

7. Yep. Depressing combination of ignorance and malice on that topic.

Peoples' attitudes towards mental illness in general haven't really advanced since the fifties or sixties. Too many people denying that mental illness exists; too many people equating it with criminality or political wrongthink; too many people convinced it's malingering.

It's frustrating.

[AJTheMan]

8. How sad.

These people should be revered for having been here so much longer than us. We should take care of them. It's a shame that they are not getting the help they so desperately need. I volunteered at a geriatric facility two summers in a row, when I was in high school. Many of the patients had Alzheimer disease. Some were completely normal. Some were completely unresponsive, barely able to focus on things around them. But you know what, a good bit of them were still mentally healthy and we had the greatest chats. I would ask them what they did before retiring. One woman said she analyzed blood samples at a local hospital another man said he was a Methodist minister. Those two summers, I gained a lot of respect for the elderly.

[xfundy]

9. Outstanding.

Thank you for actually overcoming your fears of the elderly and helping out. Are you pursuing a related career?

My mother died of Alzheimer's here at home a few months ago. Hospice helped some, but they were unbelievably untrained in the simplest procedures (using the lift, etc.). Of course the hospice company charged the government $40,000 a year, while employing minimum wage workers.

I pretty much lost my career in the process, but I'm glad I was here for her.

[AJTheMan]

10. Well, the sky is the limit for me. I'm starting my freshman year in college this August.

I will major in Business Administration. If that takes me into the geriatric industry, which, I have no doubt is a very rewarding industry, then that's where it takes me. Right now, I'm focused on getting through college though. Honestly, I'm glad I'm not on the job market right now -- from what I hear, it's pretty bleak for 2012 grads.