Due to a lack of available and comprehensive geriatric educational opportunities, many health care providers are not aware of the symptoms that may signal possible mental health conditions in their senior clients/patients. Sometimes these symptoms are obvious; at other times they may be subtle. In many cases, physical difficulties may, in fact, be the result of undiagnosed and untreated mental health conditions.
People face a number of challenges as they age including loneliness, isolation, sadness, grief, anger and the decline in their physical stamina and cognitive abilities.
If you are unsure if your senior clients/patients need mental health services, here are a few of the symptoms to watch for and ask about:
- Tearfulness
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Nervousness
- Worry
- Irritability
- Feelings of anger
- Apathy
- Decreased energy
- Sleep and appetite disturbance
- Increased substance use
- Memory impairment
- Disturbances in speech, motor activities, or object recognition
- Disturbances in social or occupational functioning
- Decreased ability to think abstractly
- Thoughts and feelings about wanting to die
If your senior client/patient is exhibiting or verbalizing concern about one or more of these symptoms, it is important to offer a resource for mental health services.
As Medicare providers, Mobile Psychotherapy Services private practitioners can deliver psychotherapy services directly to your clients’/patients’ residences, with no physician referral needed, and often with little or no out-of-pocket cost. To see if there is a Mobile Psychotherapy Services practitioner in your area, visit our provider locator.
If there is no Mobile Psychotherapy Services practitioner in you area, please contact us and let us know you are interested in having such a resource available to you.
