Emotional Struggles in Old Age: An Often-Ignored Aspect of Aging

Emotional Struggles in Old Age: An Often-Ignored Aspect of Aging

In the later years of life, a variety of mental health concerns can arise, with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and cognitive decline being among the most common [1]. Studies show that approximately 30% of older adults are at risk of depression, about 26% experience anxiety symptoms, and around 32.5% report loneliness [1].

Grief, a profound feeling of sadness, often plays a significant role in these mental health challenges. Common reasons for grief in older adults involve the loss of loved ones, which leads to significant loneliness, social network reduction, and unmet intimacy and dependency needs [2].

Grief manifests in unpleasant emotions, psychological health threats, and a sense of seclusion. Losses like the death of siblings, spouses, or children moving away contribute profoundly to grief and associated mental health challenges [2].

The five stages of coping with grief in the geriatric population are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance [3]. Denial involves trying to completely avoid and deny the grief. Anger can result in increased stress that affects mental and physical health. Bargaining is a response rooted in feelings of helplessness. Depression is a stage where one accepts the harsh truth and sits with the sadness and depth of pain. Acceptance is where the person finally accepts the situation and tries to sit through that feeling [3].

Grief counselling can be beneficial in coping with grief. This form of assistance from mental health practitioners offers techniques like CBT, ACT, group therapy, art therapy, and play therapy [4]. However, physical health ailments like heart disease, respiratory issues, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, impaired brain functioning, muscle and bone degeneration, and other chronic diseases can increase vulnerability to grief in the elderly [5].

Social isolation, lack of purpose, loss of independence, acceptance of changed appearance, and fear of ageing can lead to anxiety, depression, anger, instability, and grief in the elderly. Social abuse, mental abuse, alienation, lack of empathy, and proper care can also result in depression and grief [6].

Increased morbidity and reliance on financial aid can lead to feelings of guilt and helplessness in the elderly, contributing to grief. Social and environmental factors, such as loneliness, neglect, and ageism, can also contribute to grief [6].

Emotional regulation and anticipatory grief are important factors to consider in the psychological effects of grief in the geriatric population. As people age, they may feel isolated due to family members moving away. Mental and physical health challenges can be a result of grief in the geriatric population [6].

Mental health issues like dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and others can be more prevalent in the geriatric population, leading to increased functional dependence and potential for grief. Elders in the geriatric population may feel isolated due to family members moving away [7].

The need for targeted psychosocial interventions addressing loneliness, social support, coping skills, and grief management in the elderly to promote mental wellbeing is highlighted [3]. It is crucial to provide proper care, empathy, and support to help older adults navigate through the challenges of grief and maintain their mental health.

References:

[1] Gupta, 2024c [2] Common reasons for grief in older adults primarily involve the loss of loved ones, which leads to significant loneliness, social network reduction, and unmet intimacy and dependency needs. [3] Grief counselling, including techniques like CBT, ACT, group therapy, art therapy, and play therapy, can be beneficial in coping with grief (Gupta, 2024c). [4] Denial involves trying to completely avoid and deny the grief (LPC/Mhsp, 2023). [5] Physical health ailments like heart disease, respiratory issues, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, impaired brain functioning, muscle and bone degeneration, and other chronic diseases can increase vulnerability to grief in the elderly. [6] Depression is a stage where one accepts the harsh truth and sits with the sadness and depth of pain (LPC/Mhsp, 2023). [7] Grief counselling is a way to cope with grief with the assistance of professional help by mental health practitioners. [8] Anger in the context of grief can result in increased stress that affects mental and physical health (LPC/Mhsp, 2023). [9] Common mental health concerns in the geriatric population include depression, anxiety, loneliness, and cognitive decline. Studies show that approximately 30% of older adults are at risk of depression, about 26% experience anxiety symptoms, and around 32.5% report loneliness, with psychological distress generally increasing with age[1]. [10] Other concerns include stress, suicidal attempts, dementia, and bipolar disorder[5]. Depression in later life is often linked to chronic physical illnesses (such as vision/hearing loss, Parkinson’s, chronic pain, stroke, cancer), grief, social isolation, sleep problems, substance misuse, lack of social support, caregiving stress, and past trauma[4]. [11] Social isolation, lack of purpose, loss of independence, acceptance of changed appearance, and fear of ageing can lead to anxiety, depression, anger, instability, and grief in the elderly. [12] Grief refers to an extreme feeling of sadness. [13] The five stages of coping with grief in the geriatric population are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (LPC/Mhsp, 2023). [14] Acceptance is where the person finally accepts the situation and tries to sit through that feeling (LPC/Mhsp, 2023). [15] Mental health issues like dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and others can be more prevalent in the geriatric population, leading to increased functional dependence and potential for grief. [16] Social abuse, mental abuse, alienation, lack of empathy, and proper care can result in depression and grief in the elderly. [17] Elders in the geriatric population may feel isolated due to family members moving away (FAQs). [18] Kubler-Ross identified five core stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. [19] Mental and physical health challenges can be a result of grief in the geriatric population (FAQs). [20] Increased morbidity and reliance on financial aid can lead to feelings of guilt and helplessness in the elderly, contributing to grief. [21] Social and environmental factors, such as loneliness, neglect, and ageism, can contribute to grief in the geriatric population. [22] Bargaining is a response rooted in feelings of helplessness and can involve praying for a better reality (LPC/Mhsp, 2023). [23] Emotional regulation and anticipatory grief are important factors to consider in the psychological effects of grief in the geriatric population. [24] Increased dependence on caretakers can follow due to loss of near and dear ones (FAQs).

1. The geriatric population faces a variety of mental health concerns, with depression, anxiety, loneliness, and cognitive decline being common.
2. Grief, a profound feeling of sadness, often plays a significant role in mental health challenges for older adults.
3. Loss of loved ones, moving away of family members, and significant life changes can contribute to grief and associated mental health challenges.
4. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are the five stages of coping with grief in the geriatric population.
5. Grief counselling, including techniques like CBT, ACT, group therapy, art therapy, and play therapy, can be beneficial in coping with grief.
6. Physical health ailments like heart disease, respiratory issues, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, impaired brain functioning, muscle and bone degeneration, and other chronic diseases can increase vulnerability to grief in the elderly.
7. Depression is a stage where one accepts the harsh truth and sits with the sadness and depth of pain.
8. Social isolation, lack of purpose, loss of independence, acceptance of changed appearance, and fear of aging can lead to anxiety, depression, anger, instability, and grief in the elderly.
9. Social abuse, mental abuse, alienation, lack of empathy, and proper care can also result in depression and grief in the elderly.
10. Loneliness, neglect, and ageism can contribute to grief in the geriatric population.
11. Mental health issues like dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and others can be more prevalent in the geriatric population, leading to increased functional dependence and potential for grief.
12. Mental and physical health challenges can be a result of grief in the geriatric population.
13. Increased reliance on financial aid and feelings of guilt and helplessness can contribute to grief in the elderly.
14. Emotional regulation and anticipatory grief are important factors to consider in the psychological effects of grief in the geriatric population.
15. Increased dependence on caretakers can follow due to loss of near and dear ones.
16. Other mental health concerns in the geriatric population include stress, suicidal attempts, dementia, and bipolar disorder.
17. Depression in later life is often linked to chronic physical illnesses, grief, social isolation, sleep problems, substance misuse, lack of social support, caregiving stress, and past trauma.
18. Common reasons for grief in older adults involve the loss of loved ones, which leads to significant loneliness, social network reduction, and unmet intimacy and dependency needs.
19. Anger in the context of grief can result in increased stress that affects mental and physical health.
20. Bargaining is a response rooted in feelings of helplessness.
21. Kubler-Ross identified five core stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
22. Mental health issues can lead to decreased quality of life, increased health care costs, and decreased workplace-wellness.
23. Supporting mental health in the elderly through therapies and treatments, healthy lifestyle changes, and social connections can help improve overall health and wellness.

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