15% of adults over 50 suffer from a mental health disorder of some kind. Unfortunately, there's a stigma surrounding mental health, and many seniors aren't comfortable talking about it or looking for solutions.
Breaking the stigma surrounding mental health is essential both for seniors living in independent living communities and for those with other living arrangements. For the well-being of seniors in Hermitage, PA, located on the western edge of Pennsylvania, it's important to learn how to break through these barriers and discuss mental health openly.
In this guide, we'll tell you more about how you can start breaking the stigma of mental health.
When it comes to mental health in seniors, there is a stigma that has been difficult to shake off. Many people misunderstand mental health conditions and get uncomfortable when discussing them.
Seniors and people of other age groups may also have false beliefs about mental health that are untrue.They may not understand the various conditions a senior may deal with as they age.
Common mental health disorders seniors deal with include:
As a result of not understanding mental health issues, many seniors actively ignore it and try to avoid talking about it. Their quality of life suffers as a result.
If a person doesn't ignore mental health completely, they may still have a lot of false beliefs about it. When people do talk about mental health, they often end up talking in extremes, discussing people with mental health issues that have appeared in the news and caused danger to themselves and others.
In reality, most people who suffer from mental health disorders aren't dangerous but simply have a hard time navigating their lives with ease.
Breaking the stigma of mental health is especially important for seniors. Seniors often face social isolation and suffer from the consequences of ageism.
Learning to become better educated on mental health and deciding to speak up is essential for seniors who face mental health challenges. Seniors and their loved ones should learn better strategies for breaking the stigma of mental health. This will help ensure a senior can have a great life as they age, whether living in a retirement community such as Whispering Oaks or elsewhere.
So how can aging adults and their families break the stigma of mental health? Here are a few important steps for reducing stigma in aging.
When it comes to mental illness challenges, it's best not to sweep things under the rug. Instead, seniors should acknowledge any challenges they're facing as they age.
Although many people refer to the senior years as the "golden years", the reality is that life as a senior isn't completely stress-free. If you feel any mental turmoil, it's better not to ignore it.
Instead, accept that you have mental health challenges and get help from a professional to identify specifically which disorders you're dealing with. By strengthening senior mental health awareness and getting clear with yourself about the struggles that you're facing, you'll be much better equipped to make changes and reach out for support.
Talking with family members and friends about the mental health challenges you're facing can be helpful, so don't try to handle them all alone. Your family and friends can serve as a great support system that will help you start dealing with the challenges you face.
A senior's loved ones should be willing to listen to a senior without judging them or belittling their problems. As a loved one of a senior, make sure that you listen to their challenges and be kind to them. On the other hand, if you're a senior and a loved one hasn't listened to you as well as you would like, consider bringing this to their attention or consider looking for professional support instead.
While talking with family and friends can be helpful for strengthening emotional wellness for seniors, remember that there are other ways to get support as well. You may want to consider attending a support group or speaking with a mental health professional to get the help that you need.
No matter what kind of challenge you're facing, therapy can be beneficial and can help you start feeling more at ease while learning new strategies for coping with anxiety, depression, isolation, and other mental health challenges.
Knowledgeable and reliable mental health services can help you better understand your condition. They can help enable you to live a more fulfilled life in your senior years.
Many of the common mental health challenges that seniors face can be remedied in part by joining an independent living community.
Depression often comes about due to social isolation and loneliness, common conditions that seniors face as they get older. Joining a community can give you the opportunity to participate in a variety of physical and social activities with others and give you a sense of connection that you may currently be missing.
Seniors also face a lot of responsibilities in everyday life, such as paying bills, doing household chores, and running errands, and this can cause a lot of anxiety and stress. Moving into an active, independent living community can simplify a senior's life. In independent living, you'll be able to make use of housekeeping, amenities, and other services that can give you a more streamlined lifestyle and reduce your stress.
Breaking the stigma of mental health isn't easy, but it's well worth the effort. If you're a senior, it's essential that you and your family are aware of the potential challenges that you may face as you age. By understanding the problems, you can then start making use of mental health support in Hermitage, PA.
If you think that moving into an independent living community could help with your challenges, consider Whispering Oaks. Whispering Oaks is a leading Hermitage senior living community. Whispering Oaks resources are significant, and we provide a wealth of amenities and services to meet your needs.
Interested in learning more about Whispering Oaks? Contact us today to learn more about what we have to offer seniors.