By George F. Wilson, M.D. Princeton HealthCare System
They say that with age comes wisdom, but what they don’t often say is that with age also comes stress.
If left unmanaged, this stress can take the shine out of your golden years and get you down when you should be living it up.
Consider that according to the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, depression affects 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States and up to 20 percent suffer from anxiety.
But depression and anxiety — which are medical conditions that can be treated — don’t have to go hand-in- hand with aging. Recognizing the common stressers of older adulthood, and understanding how to manage them, can help you enjoy life long into your senior years. These stressers include:
• Illness or fear of illness. An estimated 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic health condition and approximately 50 percent have two or more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to worrying about physical illnesses, older adults are increasingly concerned about developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and losing cognitive function.
• Loss of a spouse and other loved ones. As people age, they experience a progressive loss of loved ones, friends and family members. This loss results in sadness and grief that can seem overwhelming. Moreover, research indicates that the death of a long-time spouse is predictive of the premature death of the surviving spouse. This finding is especially true for men who’ve lost their wives.
• Loss of independence. Studies have shown that older adults fear losing their independence more than death, with the majority reporting that they want to age in their own community rather than move to a retirement or assisted living development. Losing their ability to drive, make financial decisions or live on their own is a significant stress factor for aging adults.
• Finances. Money — especially in today’s economic climate — is a real concern for many older adults, especially those just entering retirement who have seen their investments and savings plans eroded over the past few years.
• Retirement. Believe it or not, retirement can cause stress for many people who have worked all their lives and derived a strong sense of personal satisfaction from their careers. Increases in substance abuse, marital discord and premature death are not uncommon after a person retires.
• Trans-generational dependence. As our life expectancy increases, more and more older adults are taking care of aging parents. At the same time, they also may be taking care of grandchildren as well as adult children, who may have moved back after losing jobs or getting divorced.
Faced with all these challenges, how is anyone supposed to enjoy old age? Fortunately, with some planning and awareness, it may not be as difficult as you think. Consider these following tips:
• Start thinking now about living arrangements for the future. What location and environment will be most supportive? If you retire to Florida, for instance, do you have a network of friends and family that will keep you active and be available for help if you need it?
• Take control of your physical health. Exercise, eat a healthy diet and manage any chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. See your primary care provider for regular check-ups. Maintaining your physical health is important to maintaining your independence.
• Make sure you have interests outside of work that can keep you physically, mentally and socially active. Do you have a lifetime sport? Is there a hobby you’ve always wanted to pursue? Are you active in a religious or spiritual organization? Having a range of interests and activities helps keep you healthy and happy as you age.
• Engage your brain. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that maintaining active intellectual function can help reduce the likelihood of dementia and loss of cognitive function. Go beyond the daily crossword, and join a book club or attend free lectures or even get involved in politics — anything to keep your brain active.
• Consider a “Second Act.” Just because you retired, doesn’t mean you have to stop working. In fact, it is a great time to pursue that thing you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the chance. This also is a good way to bring in a few extra dollars to help supplement your budget.
Just as important, if you experience symptoms of depression or anxiety, such as a change in your eating habits, low energy, and/or persistent sadness for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor. After ruling out any physical illness, he or she may refer you to a mental health specialist for help.
Princeton House Behavioral Health, a unit of Princeton HealthCare System, offers a variety of programs — including Senior Link — tailored to older adults suffering from depression, major anxiety and other mood disorders. Senior Link is an active treatment program staffed by trained and licensed professionals, including psychiatrists who specialize in geriatrics.
Individuals attend Senior Link four to five days a week. Each day consists of group activities such as psychotherapy groups, psychoeducational groups and activity groups. People benefit from interactions with other older adults who have similar problems. Because Senior Link is a hospital-based program, individuals have access to a variety of services, medical and psychiatric.
For more information about Senior Link or to find a physician affiliated with Princeton HealthCare System, call 888-742-7496 or visit www.princetonhcs.org. Additional information about Princeton House Behavioral Health can be found at www.princetonhcs.org/ princetonhouse.
George F. Wilson, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist and Medical Director of the Women’s Program, an outpatient service of Princeton House Behavioral Health.
