Many people look forward to the golden years as the time to enjoy a new phase in life and to spend idyllic moments with loved ones. All this can be true approaching this time, but it can also be a stage of human life that is difficult to fathom. By the time you become older and wiser, the hair turns grey, the vision blurs, the knees quiver, and the hands lose their grip – it can be the period to face the maximum amount of challenges this transition presents.

Aging adults often fall prey to various emotional health issues, including depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, older adults are overlooked when it comes to emotional health care. Many with symptoms struggle without adequate care and treatment. Just like the younger generation, the aging population requires the same, if not more, attention to help them on these issues. A little bit of guidance and counseling may be all that is needed for the senior years better, happy and fulfilling.

Five Common Emotional Health Concerns in Older Adults

It is estimated that about 20 percent of people aged 55 and over have some type of emotional health issues. Although these health conditions are not a natural part of aging, these are often experienced during later life. Frequently, misdiagnosis occurs due to the presence of physical complaints related to age. Alternately, some symptoms are overlooked as common physical ailments for people at this stage in life.

Here are some presenting issues that may warrant counseling:

1. Depression – One of the greatest issues for older adults is depression. Aging can often mean facing significant life changes that may increase the risk for depression, including health problems, issues of social isolation and loneliness, reduced sense of purpose, and multiple losses. Depression can range from a reactive sadness to grief and to clinical depression. Even though some cases may not qualify as a diagnosable disorder, depression can significantly impact the lives of seniors. Unfortunately, seniors rarely seek help for a highly treatable condition as depression.
2. Anxiety – This very common mood disorder among seniors often appears in tandem with depression, and both are often unrecognized, ignored or overlooked. Although the symptoms are often downplayed, anxiety is a geriatric giant with many comorbidities that can impact the physical, emotional and behavioral functioning of seniors. Basking in calmness to enjoy the senior years without anxiety is possible with counseling.
3. Grief and loss – Older adults experience grief and loss in various forms: identity, status, mobility, independence, interpersonal relationships, lifestyle, financial security, cognitive faculty and physical strength. The profound effect of grief and loss may have a bigger impact on the daily life of seniors more than what young people are willing or able to understand. Not only are their grief and losses associated with death, but they themselves are probably grieving for a variety of losses associated to living through the remaining years.
4. Alcohol and substance abuse – Abusing alcohol and substance is not age-related, but it can go unrecognized among those in their golden years. In fact, the considerable percentage of seniors who knowingly or unknowingly misuse alcohol and substances continues to grow. Aging issues, such as retirement, disability and pain, losses, and loneliness are some of the reasons that provide opportunities for older adults to abuse alcohol and substances. The problem can have a terrible impact on the physical and emotional wellbeing, which, when left untreated, can worsen illnesses or lead to serious medical conditions.
5. Self-harm – Episodes of self-harm are prevalent particularly to those aged 65 and over as this age range is unique to issues, such as bereavement, isolation, or physical, intellectual and emotional health problems. The problem is unlikely to be underreported due to strong emotions of shame and guilt. It often goes untreated, especially if it has become an ingrained habit for seniors trying to escape the intolerable late-life issues.

The Benefits of Counseling for Seniors

Traditionally, seniors are likely to visit their primary care provider when experiencing physical health problems. Unknown to them, they may already be expressing emotional health concerns in somatic terms. The seniors tend to complain about headaches, sleeping or eating problems, nightmares, etc. rather than speak about their fears, loneliness, hopelessness, or guilt.

Many seniors may not have an experience or never benefited from counseling. Whether due to the stigma attached to it or counseling has never been a part of their culture, the importance of working collaboratively with a compassionate and competent counselor is what may be needed to address specific issues encountered in aging.

Here’s how counseling can help senior clients.

Counseling can help alleviate the depressive lows. As more years are gathered in life, people may be compelled to let go of numerous things that have been part of life for so long. This may include family, job, home – from which a loss of meaning or purpose to continue living can be felt. It can feel as if nothing is left familiar and leave you feeling sad, depressed and hopeless. The search for hope can end with counseling.

Counseling revitalizes social interaction. Working with a trusted counselor can help seniors speak their hearts out. In the process, they can start feeling connected and feel understood for things no one bothered to take a second look before. Counseling may include activities that promote social interaction by engaging them in meaningful exercises.

Counseling is also a great tool for overcoming a significant trauma at this stage. Whether it involves the death of a loved one, an accident, or family abuse, counseling can be an effective support system to help curb the issue from becoming a bigger problem in the future.

Providing Emotional Wellness Deserved by the Senior Population

The aging population has distinctive concerns, issues, and attitudes inherent to their age. It must be recognized that a better job can be done to address them. While they equally deserve emotional wellness as their younger counterparts, seniors need more preferential attention and care. Whether older adults live with the family, alone or in a retirement community, there is no need for them to face the changes and challenges that come with age alone.

Just like any age group, the senior sector has an end goal – to be comfortable and happy.

At times, age may not work favorably with older adults transitioning into the senior lifestyle due to cognitive or mobility decline. It is upon the family and caregivers to keep an eye out for red flags that may indicate an emotional health concern. This may include increased irritability, unhygienic practices, withdrawal or isolation, weight loss or gain, drop in energy level, excessive worry, unexplained cuts, sadness, and more.

Counseling at later in life is neither a shameful nor a cowardly act. It is not an activity done in vain, but an opportunity to turn something negative into a positive. The point of addressing the symptoms is in seeking help while the risk factors are still treatable. The worst thing is to allow seniors to continue living with pain and disillusionment without treatment.

Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina (N. Main St.) responds to the need of older adults for counseling. There are independently contracted geriatric counselors, and one of them may be the right fit professional who can provide support and compassionate therapy. If you or a significant senior needs help for whatever age-related emotional health issues, reach out by making a call to schedule an appointment now.