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Enhanced Care for Older Adults with Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common mental health conditions experienced by older adults. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 20% of people aged 60 and older live with anxiety or depression, a number I expect may be a good bit higher given that older adults are...
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Using Virtual Reality to Address Loneliness and Increase Social Connectedness in a Personalized Recovery-Oriented Services (PROS) Program for Older Adults
Social isolation refers to the lack of meaningful friendships, connections, and relationships in one's life, whereas loneliness is the perception of the feelings associated with isolation (Wu, 2020). Wu (2020) reported that one-quarter of older people living in-community report feelings of...
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Bipolar Disorder in Older Adults: Symptoms, Cognitive Impact, and Supportive Activities
Bipolar disorder in older adults is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as dementia, early Alzheimer’s disease, or even normal age-related cognitive decline (Brown et al., 2011). It is important to distinguish older age bipolar disorder from these diagnoses because treatments and medications are...
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Addressing Suicidality in Older Adults: A Community-Based Approach
In a review of data around suicidality, we see that older adults are highly vulnerable. The CDC reports that adults over age 45 account for more than 50% of deaths by suicide in the US, with the risk of suicide increasing with age. The national rate of suicide is highest among men over age 85 (45.9...
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Supporting Socially Isolated Seniors
For many seniors, especially those who live alone, life can become progressively more challenging and isolating, compromising their ability to age well and safely in place. According to a report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, nearly one-quarter of adults age 65...
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Enhancing Geriatric Behavioral Health: Best-Practices and Technology-Assisted Care Solutions
As the United States grapples with the realities of an aging population, the importance of adapting our health and social service system of care to meet the needs of older adults has never been more critical. In 2020, approximately one in six people in the U.S. were aged 65 or over, highlighting a...
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Treatment Services for Older Adults with Substance Use Disorders
As the leader of Odyssey House, one of the largest non-profit residential and outpatient treatment providers in New York City, I have witnessed firsthand the growing need for specialized services tailored to those struggling with addiction, including older adults. While substance use disorders can...
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How to Approach Treating Older Adults with Complex Mental and Physical Care Needs
Roughly 14% of adults over age 60 (WHO, 2023) live with a mental health condition. As the geriatric population continues to grow (Urban Institute, n.d.), so do its rates of mental distress, depression, and drug deaths (Wilson, 2024). The behavioral health industry must prepare for treating more...
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Caring for Older Adults With Depression
The population of older adults in the United States is growing at an unprecedented rate. From 2010-2020, the number of Americans aged 65 or older grew by 34%, with no signs of slowing down (United States Census Bureau, 2020). This large aging population presents several challenges for the...
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Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults
Social isolation and loneliness are health risks that affect a quarter of American adults 65 and older (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2020). Social isolation is defined as the objective state of having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with others,...
