Psychology for Seniors
basic topics presented especially for senior citizens

 

Psychological Disorders & Health

Some common myths include the belief that American families abandon their older relatives; the belief that all older people suffer from dementia; and beliefs that most older people are sad and lonely, tormented by fears of death and dying.  In fact, none of these assertions is true. The vast majority of older people are happy and satisfied with their lives. Surveys show that older people fear death less than young and middle-aged people do. Families typically remain closely tied to their older relatives — even when they live in nursing homes. And while dementia is more common in old age than any other time, it is not at all typical. Changes in thinking that occur with normal aging are largely harmless, typified by mild forgetfulness and word-finding difficulty in conversational speech.


However, it is true that aging folks are at greater risk of some psychological disorders. Many of these. such as depression, Alzheimer's disease, and anxiety, can be diagnosed and treated successfully. Nevertheless, many seniors are reluctant to seek treatment because they don't understand psychological disorders or want to acknowledge their existence. Some feel ashamed of their symptoms or feel that they are an inevitable part of aging. Doctors fail to recognize the symptoms of treatable psychological disorders in seniors.

This module addresses the psychological health of the aging, with a view toward providing accurate perspectives on disorders and treatment.