Mental illness among seniors is often misunderstood by family and friends, but it’s also under-diagnosed by doctors, says one expert.
Dr. Louise Carrier, an Ottawa geriatric psychiatrist, says the factors that go along with aging – declining physical health, medication, and changes to a patient’s social environment – can complicate the situation.
There’s also the plain fact that a lot of older people don’t want to talk about mental illness.
“There’s a lot of demystifying you need to do, a lot of destigmatizing, For this population, going to the doctor is very shameful. Imagine going to a psychiatrist,” Carrier says.
It’s not just a matter of what seniors think about themselves.
Carrier says that preconceived notions of the elderly can affect the diagnosis of mental illness among them.
“One of the common misconceptions, if we talk about seniors, is it’s all due to age . . . ‘I’d be depressed if I were in your shoes. Look at you, you’re 80 years old and you can’t walk. It’s normal to be depressed. It’s normal to lose your memory,’” Carrier says.
These false impressions often discourage seniors from coming forward with their concerns and lead to under-diagnosis of mental illness, she says.
According to 2008 regional health statistics, more than 41,000 people over the age of 65 in the Ottawa area have one or more mental health problems.
The most common problems include depression, dementia, psychosis and alcohol and substance abuse.
In fact, there has been a growing trend of alcohol and substance abuse among local seniors, says Erin Pollard, who is the coordinator of an addictions program for adults over the age of 55 at the Centretown Community Health Centre.
“We see quite a range of substances being used,” Pollard says. These include painkillers, alcohol and marijuana – even crack cocaine.
While each case is unique, Pollard says many in the program are trying to cope with loss, such as the death of a spouse, family member or friend.
The program offers counselling at its downtown clinic and also makes house calls to reach the less mobile.
Pollard says that about 60 per cent of the program’s clients receive in-home counselling.
The CCHC also provides stress reduction group therapy, which is where Margaret King found herself 10 years ago.
At the time, King’s husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and was moved from their home into a hospital.
Feelings of stress and burnout from caring for him led her to join the group.
“Everyone was there for different reasons, but the sessions helped us deal with the world outside,” says King.
As Canada’s population ages, the ever-increasing demand for health services for seniors will only continue to rise.
Pollard says that one of the challenges in providing services for seniors is the diversity of the group.
“We talk of children and the age range is three to five, but with seniors, we’re talking anywhere from 55 to 105," she says.
"The difference is huge.”