The two most under-diagnosed and under-treated mental illnesses among the elderly population are depression and anxiety. There are particular signs and symptoms of these disorders that are important to monitor, according to Dr. Jennifer Stelter, PsyD and Director of Operations of Clinical Programs for The Alden Network.
If your loved one is no longer engaging in the day-to-day activities that they used to enjoy, you should probably be concerned about possible depression. Other symptoms include sad facial expressions, tearfulness, increases or decreases in appetite, increases or decreases in the amount of sleep they get, irritability, loss of energy, feelings of guilt and difficulties with concentration that appear to cause forgetfulness and may mimic dementia.
In addition, if they begin to express the notion that they no longer have anything to live for or would rather join their deceased loved ones, there is certainly a need for a mental health evaluation, Dr. Stelter stated.
[For more of this story, written by Jean Murphy, go to http://www.dailyherald.com/art...4/entlife/170109726/]
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