It’s always important that caregivers are providing a supportive environment for seniors, but this task becomes even more crucial when mental health issues are at play. Although awareness of mental health challenges is getting better every day, there is still a lot to learn about these conditions and how best to support someone who is struggling.
With that in mind, there are three items to consider in today’s blog: How to recognize the signs of mental health challenges, how to help someone, and how to help yourself. All three are essential in order to provide the senior you care for with the best help possible, so let’s get started.
Recognizing the Signs
There isn’t any single representation of mental health challenges for you to look out for. Every case is unique, and even if you’re well versed in the signs to look out for, there might still be incidents that surprise you. A good rule of thumb is to always dig deeper if the senior you care for is exhibiting any behavior that concerns you. In an ideal scenario it’s nothing to worry about, but if not then at least you might be able to catch an issue before it spins out of control. With that being said, there are definitely some classic signs to watch out for when it comes to someone’s mental health.
No longer interested in the things they used to be
This is a very common sign of someone who is struggling with their mental health, particularly depression. The senior you care for might appear disinterested, bored or apathetic towards activities they previously enjoyed. This is usually accompanied by a lack of interest in almost any activity at all. They may simply want to stay at home and not engage in anything at all.
Outbursts of Anger
The senior you care for might have unpredictable mood swings where they lash out at you for strange reasons, or sometimes no reason at all. They also might display an overall crankiness and give short and brisk answers to your questions.
Changes in Weight/Appetite
Someone struggling with their mental health will often experience changes in their appetite, which could mean a sudden weight loss or gain. Also, sometimes a person’s weight can change without any changes to their diet. Stress, various health conditions and some medications can cause weight gain. While it doesn’t always seem kind to pay attention to what someone’s body looks like, it can indicate their mental state, so if you notice a drastic change it’s worth asking a few gentle questions.
Withdrawn/Socially Anxious
Even if someone still shows interest in their regular activities, you might notice that they are suddenly struggling to be social and seem fearful of events that used to cause them no stress. While everyone can have moments of anxiety from time to time, if you notice the senior you care for is constantly backing out of plans or shying away from conversations then it might be due to mental health challenges that you haven’t explored yet.
Recklessness
Many people with mental health challenges might present with a reckless attitude. This means engaging in activities that they know to be unsafe or irresponsible, but they choose to do it anyway. While everyone makes foolish choices now and then, someone who is acting recklessly might feel like they have nothing to live for, so this is certainly not a sign you should ignore!
Insomnia
Another common sign of someone experiencing a mental health challenge is an inability to get adequate sleep. You might find them up in the kitchen in the middle of the night or yawning and napping constantly throughout the day. Lack of sleep can cause lots of long term health problems, so it’s not a symptom you want to…sleep…on.
Low Self Esteem
Finally, one more common symptom of poor mental health is low self esteem. This might present as someone refusing to hear anything nice about themselves, or constantly picking on their appearance in the mirror. This might also translate into them picking apart someone else’s appearance or personality, with the ill informed idea that by being cruel to someone else it might somehow make themselves feel better.
This is of course not an exhaustive list of symptoms for someone struggling with mental health challenges, but it’s a good place to start. If you notice one or more of these issues, or anything else that gives you a pause, you might want to consider how to implement some of the following strategies.
Creating a Supportive Environment
You’ve recognized the signs and know that the senior you care for needs help. It’s time to really work on building a supportive environment where they can get better and thrive.
Listen Without Judgement
It can be very difficult to hear someone talk about the difficulties they are facing, but sometimes that’s just what they need. Try to be available to them without judgement or jumping to solutions. Of course you want to solve their problems, but sometimes that can be done by just letting someone speak. Everyone needs to be heard, and there’s a chance the senior you care for hasn’t had an appropriate outlet. They might be feeling isolated and ignored, and simply having someone to talk to could be incredibly helpful. You could even set aside a specific time each day to talk through their worries. That way it does’t need to be all consuming, but they will know that there will be a time each day for them to express their thoughts and fears to you. That alone can be calming and help facilitate a more comfortable environment for them.
Suggest Therapy
While you being there to provide a listening ear is certainly important, you are not a trained mental health professional, and sometimes the issues someone else is facing may be too great for you to deal with. And, even if they are manageable, it can be good for seniors to have an unbiased third party to speak to so they can do so without any hesitation or embarrassment. You can point them towards all the evidence of how effective therapy can be for someone’s mental wellness. Regardless of what the root cause of someone’s mental health issues are, they are sure to be able to find a therapist or counselor who is equipped to meet their needs.
You can manage all the issues therapy can target, such as grief, loneliness, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. If they’re still hesitant you can also suggest visiting a therapist together, or joining a support group. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk through problems as part of a group, that way they can see that they are not alone, and that what they’re facing is actually incredibly common.
Offer Enjoyable Activities
Sometimes one of the best ways to tackle poor mental health is simply by focusing on something else. That’s why it can be very helpful to introduce enjoyable daily activities. You might consider purchasing some water colors and heading to the local park to paint some flowers. You could read poetry together, or work on a knitting project. There are countless options, but a great place to start is by tuning into the things that seem to spark interest or imagination in the senior you’re caring for. Maybe that means blowing bubbles, or looking up facts about World War 1, there’s no one size fits all. Just try to be creative and offer lots of different options to try to get their mind in a better place.
Declutter
A cluttered space can often result in a cluttered mind. While of course a messy apartment is not going to be the soul cause of someone’s mental health issues, it certainly won’t help! Living in a clean space can help them feel calmer and more in control of their thoughts, so putting an emphasis on cleaning and decluttering can be an excellent way to create a supportive environment. Frequent cleaning can also reduce the chance of environmental allergies, which can have a negative impact on mental health.
Food, Sleep, Exercise
Tale as old as time, but there’s a reason why a focus on diet, exercise and sleep routines is recommended by doctors all around the world. This trio can have a major impact on a person’s mental health, so take a look at how the senior you care for is engaging in these habits. Here are a few things to think about:
Diet: focus on a colorful plate. Barring any specific dietary needs, a good rule of thumb is a quarter of a plate is protein, a quarter is carbs, and half is vegetables. should be limited, try to include more fruit instead of baked sweets. When choosing carbs opt for whole grains instead of white, and be sure to include healthy fats like olive oil and avocado. Stay hydrated with water and herbal tea, don’t drink too many drinks that contain sugar and caffeine.
Exercise: Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. This might be walking, swimming or stretching, depending on the physical abilities of the senior in question. The more exercise the better, and, even if not including a full workout, try to get the senior you care for up frequently even if just to quickly stretch their legs.
Sleep: Sleep is often one of the first things we let slide, but it one of the most important indicators of good health. While there can be many reasons why someone might struggle with sleep, it’s important to try to give the senior you care for every opportunity to get a good sleep. They should go to sleep at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning. Their room should be cool and dark, and they should avoid screens and heavy meals before bed. Those with sensitive bladders should also stop drinking fluids a few hours before bed to avoid getting up in the middle of the night.
Regular Check-Ups
A supportive environment means a supportive team, so the senior you care for’s medical team should always be kept in the know about any mental health challenges. Make sure the senior you care for is going to their regular check-ups and keeping up to take with any medication or supplements. Mental health can be made worse if chronic conditions are not being properly managed, so make sure all appointments are being kept and followed up on.
Bring in Community
We all do a little better with friends and family close by. While you are there to support, it’s important that others are as well. Make sure facilitate time together with the support network so that the senior you care for as other loved ones to talk to and spend time with.
Let the Sunshine In
Sun can have an immense positive impact on one’s mental health, particularly those who are struggling with depression. Make sure to open the blinds each morning and take every opportunity you can to spend time outdoors soaking up the sun. If it’s overcast where you live, or the winter darkness is too intense, it might be a smart investment to get a sun lamp.
Take Care of Yourself
The final piece in this supportive puzzle is to not forget to care for yourself. You might be a professional caregiver, or you might be caring for a sick family member, but, regardless of the circumstances, caregiving can take its toll, and it’s crucial that you keep your own mental health in check.
You can’t do your job effectively if you’re burned out, so the above tips can apply to you just as much as they might apply to the person you’re caring for. Take care of your diet, exercise and sleep, and care for your own time. Sometimes caregivers can get so wrapped up in their job that they forget to take time for themselves and that can impact not just them but their friends, children and spouses. Make sure to set clear boundaries and give yourself the occasional day off. Have another caregiver who you trust who can step in as needed, so that you can take a step away without feeling guilt or worry.
You can’t care well for someone else if you are sick or exhausted, so remember that prioritizing your own wellbeing will positively impact the person you care for as well.
When you begin to recognize the signs of mental health challenges, remember this three-pronged approach, and hopefully, the senior you care for will soon be on their way to a happier life.
