‘Mental health issues on the rise among elderly, those above 60 susceptible’

“We realised the need for an exclusive facility for the elderly, who may not get the attention they deserve, and also for practical purposes, it is easier for them to come on a particular day and meet their doctors, without waiting for too long, as many travel from outside the city. We also have to remember the social reasons why more males get help, as a wife will immediately bring her husband to the hospital, while many women may not be even diagnosed,” said Dr Mehra, adding that the clinic here sees more than 20 new patients weekly on an average.

Depression, anxiety, sadness, and stress are the major reasons why the elderly seek help, and these, said Dr Mehra, are a result of diseases, loneliness, being away from family and children, a lack of self-worth after retirement, financial issues, not engaging in physical, social and mental activities. With nuclear families on the rise, many senior citizens feel a lack of care and no one to talk to, and with diseases like diabetes, arthritis, heart problems, blood pressure, pains and aches, they feel more dependent and less active.

“The population is shifting towards the elderly, and it is a vulnerable population. We need to dispel the myth that dementia is a natural outcome of old age. It is not. It is a disease that needs immediate medical help and treatment for forgetfulness, limited social skills, and reduced thinking abilities that interfere with the daily functioning of a person. We have to identify dementia, treat it and improve a person’s quality of life,” added Dr Mehra.

Counselling, medicines, behavioural therapy and family support, adds the doctor, are integral parts of the treatment, which requires a regular follow-up and a change in lifestyle, including positive thinking, exercise, a better diet and time and patience of family and friends. “In most cases, the spouse is the main caregiver, and then the children.”

Many senior citizens are referred to the department of psychiatry from the departments of general medicine and general surgery at the PGI, as after extensive investigations, doctors are unable to find the cause of pains, gastro issues, fatigue, and lethargy.

“Stress and emotional problems manifest in many ways, and every person has a different way to cope with stress, and we strive to assess every individual according to his or her personality. So, the role of a primary physician is paramount in this regard, as the physician is the first contact of a patient and appropriate reference is a vital part of treatment.

A recent study by the department on psychosomatic disorders on a sample size of 160 – 39 males and 101 females – indicated that many after being referred to the psychiatry department by other departments said they had no illness and were here because the doctor asked them to seek counselling.

“Majority said they do not want any psychiatric treatment, have no stress and don’t care about it. The sigma, both internal and external, stops them from accepting their condition and seeking psychiatric help, which needs to change if we want a healthier society. There has to be a shift in attitudes, and that’s our constant effort,” said Dr Mehra.

Keep the brain active

Dr Mehra recommends simple activities to keep the brain active and working in many dimensions:

• Play games like ludo and snakes and ladders, as the counting, colour differentiation, and thinking about the moves help the brain work
• Engage in crosswords and sudoku
• Take a mix of different beans like chana, rajmah, raungi, etc., and separate these
• Give the elderly varied coloured bowls and tell them to tell the differences
• Use recall value to stimulate the brain. Take old albums, tell the elderly to identify people, and ask questions about the occasion, the time, place year etc.