Mental Health Support for Older Adults

When it comes to the natural aging process, we understand that older adults face a new set of challenges that may come unexpectedly as life progresses. If you can relate, find comfort knowing that AdventHealth Well 65+ social workers offer psychosocial support, education and referrals to community resources for those age 65 and beyond.

Keep reading to learn about our mission, services offered, along with common mental health concerns in older adults.

Our Mission

Our mission is to enhance the well-being and meet the needs of all of our patients, whatever their circumstances. Our social workers are specifically trained and work with older adults who commonly face health issues like anxiety, depression and dementia, and external factors such as financial instability, isolation and caregiver support.

Services Offered

Services are complimentary for our patients. The services we offer include:

• Advance care planning
• Caregiver support
• Consultations
• Coping with chronic illness
• Counseling sessions
• Educational workshops
• Grief support
• Stress reduction
• Support groups

Mental Health Concerns in Older Adults

As people grow older, they may experience life changes specific to older adults that influence their mental health, such as coping with a serious illness or the grief of losing a loved one. Although many people adjust to these life changes, some may experience feelings of grief that don’t go away, social isolation and/or loneliness. When these feelings persist, they can lead to mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

Prioritizing mental health is important at every age and life stage. Effective treatment options are available to help older adults manage their mental health and improve their quality of life. Recognizing the signs and seeing a health care provider are the first steps toward treatment and getting better.

Symptoms of Mental Illness in Older Adults

We encourage you to seek help if you recognize these red flags in yourself, a loved one, a friend or a neighbor:

• Anger, irritability and/or aggressive behavior
• Behavior that is concerning to others or that interferes with work, family or social life
• Changes in mood, appetite and/or energy levels
• Chronic digestive problems, headaches and/or body pain
• Difficulty concentrating; feeling restless or on edge
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Engaging in high-risk activities
• Feeling “flat” or having trouble feeling positive emotions
• Hallucinations
• Hopelessness and/or sadness
• Increased worry or feeling stressed
• Misuse of alcohol or drugs
• Obsessive-compulsive thinking and/or behavior
• Thoughts of death, suicide or suicide attempts

If you need immediate help, don’t hesitate to connect with the Suicide Prevention Lifeline for free and confidential support 24/7. Simply dial or text 988.

We’re Always Here for You

No matter how you’re feeling, our team will be by your side with the expert care and support you need to feel healthy and whole through all of life’s changes.

To schedule a wellness visit to talk about this important topic, call us at Call833-323-6724.