{"id":665389,"date":"2026-06-30T03:12:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T03:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/665389\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T03:12:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T03:12:14","slug":"communication-key-to-supporting-older-adults-mental-health-wral-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/665389\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication key to supporting older adults’ mental health :: WRAL.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

In recent years, more people have become comfortable talking about their mental health. But for some, there is still a perception that experiencing\u00a0depression<\/a>\u00a0or anxiety is a sign of weakness. Adults older than 65 might be especially vulnerable.<\/p>\n

\u201cStigma around mental health can be a huge issue for some older adults, who were taught that they should be stoic, independent and have it all together,\u201d says\u00a0Tamara Baker, PhD<\/a>, professor of psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the only stigma that these adults face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe live in a society that doesn\u2019t always value older adults and doesn\u2019t always talk about what it means to age well,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cHow do you expect an older person to feel when there\u2019s so much content about anti-aging? That has implications on mental health, in addition to not feeling comfortable talking to someone about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This double stigma can make it hard to determine if someone is going through typical challenges of aging or needs mental health help. Dr. Baker explains the symptoms to know and steps to take if you\u2019re concerned for a loved one.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSymptoms of mental health conditions in older adults<\/p>\n

The symptoms for\u00a0depression<\/a>, anxiety and other mental health conditions are the same no matter a person\u2019s age. Too often, though, when an older person has those symptoms, we may assume it\u2019s a function of aging or early signs of\u00a0dementia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a young person tells\u00a0their doctor<\/a>\u00a0they don\u2019t feel like themselves, that their body hurts, that they\u2019re having trouble sleeping or concentrating, it\u2019s more likely that it will be recognized as depression,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cWhen an older adult says the same thing, people think, \u2018Yeah, that\u2019s because you\u2019re old.\u2019 That\u2019s part of the stigma that so many have around aging.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also common for younger people to project depression or anxiety onto an older person, particularly if their spouse has died, they\u2019re dealing with a chronic health condition or they\u2019re not getting out as much as they used to.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecoming older brings many transitions that can be difficult, but we should not assume that just because a person is dealing with those that they\u2019re depressed or anxious,\u201d Dr. Baker says.<\/p>\n

Symptoms to look for include:<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDifficulty concentrating, focusing or completing routine tasksIndecisiveness, particularly if it\u2019s newLow energy and fatigueIrritabilityChanges in eating habitsPhysical painIncreasing alcohol or substance useMissing appointments or eventsWithdrawing from family and friends<\/p>\n

Symptoms of depression or anxiety can be similar to symptoms of\u00a0mild cognitive impairment<\/a>, but instead of assuming it\u2019s one or the other, try to have a conversation with your loved one.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn older adult may need some help recognizing symptoms of depression if they were never taught to talk about it,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cThey may assume it\u2019s just a normal part of aging, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to help an older adult with their mental health<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTalk about what they like doing. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in the middle of your working life, it\u2019s easy to romanticize retirement. But it\u2019s not all freedom and fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s loss of routine, reduced social engagement and there may be financial stress without a regular paycheck,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cIt can also leave adults thinking, \u2018Why am I here? What\u2019s my purpose?\u2019 When your identity has been working or raising kids, you lose that. All of that has an impact on mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n

That can be a hard thing to recognize, and you might put someone on the defensive if you ask them what their new purpose is going to be. Start with a more manageable question.<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk, \u2018What do you enjoy doing now?\u2019\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cThat\u2019s different for people at every age. If a person enjoys playing the guitar, that can be their purpose. If a person wants to read and do puzzles, that\u2019s a purpose. But if a person has been busy with work, finding that purpose might be hard at first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of insisting that your aging parent start\u00a0volunteering<\/a>\u00a0or taking classes at a local community center (though these are great options for some), keep conversations focused on what they might like to do. If possible, try new activities with them.<\/p>\n

You can encourage them to seek opportunities where they can share their experience with younger people.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing we\u2019re seeing in research is that when older individuals have an opportunity to interact with and mentor younger individuals, they have better mental health outcomes,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cDon\u2019t demand it though. Every person should still have autonomy to make their own decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tListen and document. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019re taking care of your own children, you\u2019re probably used to problem-solving for them. Resist that urge when you visit with your parents, but pay attention.<\/p>\n

Dr. Baker recommends keeping track of behavior changes you notice. \u201cWhen you want to have a conversation with them or with their doctor, you won\u2019t remember everything that concerns you. Have a notebook, or something to document, where you can make a note: \u2018She used to play with her grandkids, but now she\u2019s very low energy and says she\u2019s staying in bed for longer.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Talk to your parents about their physical health and recommendations they receive from their doctor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf an older adult is taking a new medication, it\u2019s really important to document how they feel,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cThe medication may have one positive outcome for their health but cause side effects in other areas, including mental health, and that documentation will be important for their clinician in considering whether to change the medication.\u201d<\/p>\n

As someone ages, it can be helpful to attend medical appointments with them if they are comfortable with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo many older adults don\u2019t have an advocate to help them talk about how they\u2019re really feeling when they see their doctor, and that\u2019s where that trusty notebook can really help,\u201d Dr. Baker says.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tInvolve your loved one in decisions. <\/p>\n

Again, resist the urge to make decisions for your parents without involving them. You may think that the best thing for their mental health would be a retirement community where they can meet others, have shared meals and activities, and people to check on them, but they may not want that.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople want to maintain their autonomy and make decisions for themselves,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cWhen we take that independence away, that can cause depression, anxiety and withdrawal.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you have concerns about a parent\u2019s living situation or symptoms you see, talk to them and get their input on next steps.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as an adult is cognitively able, they need to have a say about what happens with their life,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cYou can tell your mom, \u2018This is what I\u2019ve seen; do you want to see a\u00a0therapist<\/a>?\u2019 Let her say yes or no.\u201d<\/p>\n

No matter a person\u2019s age, it often takes\u00a0multiple conversations<\/a>\u00a0before they\u2019re ready to make a change or seek treatment for depression or anxiety. It may take a few extra conversations for an older adult not comfortable discussing mental health, and they may not know about\u00a0mental health practices<\/a>\u00a0such as\u00a0gratitude journaling<\/a>\u00a0or the ways that\u00a0too much scrolling<\/a>\u00a0on their phones can upset them. Keep bringing up your concerns and providing ideas, but let the next step be a shared decision.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAsk about moments of connection. <\/p>\n

Social connection and community are important to healthy aging, but isolation can be hard to spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some people who are very socially connected but emotionally isolated,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cThere are also people who look alone\u2014maybe they\u2019ve lost a lot of people and have limited mobility\u2014but they\u2019re not lonely. It looks different for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t assume that every aging adult needs a robust social calendar; you can start by asking if they\u2019re happy with how often they see others or get out. If they\u2019re struggling with mobility or can no longer drive, ask if they\u2019re interested in virtual opportunities. They may find that briefer moments of connection are just as valuable as longer ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor some people, a brief five-minute conversation works wonders,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cEven that small moment of connection, where someone asks how they\u2019re feeling today, can be enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEncourage a healthy lifestyle. <\/p>\n

Healthy habits help with mood and can be a great first step if someone isn\u2019t comfortable seeing a therapist or taking a medication for depression or anxiety.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting proper\u00a0sleep<\/a>, maintaining\u00a0good nutrition<\/a>, regular physical activity\u2014these all help with maintaining mental health and sharpness,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cMovement<\/a>\u00a0in particular works miracles. It helps with mood, sleep, energy levels and cognitive function.\u201d<\/p>\n

While aging may bring physical changes, there are many ways to exercise that accommodate\u00a0limited mobility<\/a>, such as workouts that you can do from a chair or in the pool.<\/p>\n

Part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is seeing a\u00a0primary care provider<\/a>\u00a0regularly and being honest with them about any mood symptoms you\u2019re experiencing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want an older adult to know that it\u2019s OK to ask for help and to make sure you\u2019re being seen, heard and respected,\u201d Dr. Baker says. \u201cIf a provider is just attributing those symptoms to aging, then it\u2019s OK to find a clinician who will provide appropriate care.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve noticed changes in your mood, talk to your doctor. If you need a doctor,\u00a0find one near you<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In recent years, more people have become comfortable talking about their mental health. But for some, there is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":665390,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[118786,854,3275,2864,102,1906,6623,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-665389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mental-health","tag-aging-well","tag-dementia","tag-depression","tag-family","tag-health","tag-mental-health","tag-mentalhealth","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=665389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/665389\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/665390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=665389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=665389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=665389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}