Mental Health Care In Aging Populations

Improved Essays
Long-Term and Mental Health Care in Aging Populations
To understand and solve the problems that face health care administrators with the ever growing population, we must first define what is needed or required. Long term care could be described as a variety of services that due to a chronic illness or disability, the individuals can no longer care for themselves for lengthy periods of time. A staggering 70 percent of people turning age 65 can expect to use some form of long-term care during their lives (What is Long 1). Riding along the same lines is mental health care. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It can affect how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to
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Alterations in lifestyle, which may include a better diet, exercise, lower alcohol and/or illegal drug intake, and getting enough sleep can make vast differences to mental health. The first thing to understand, what works for one person may not work for another. Some strategies or treatment are more successful when combined with others. Activity therapies, also called recreation therapy and occupational therapy, promote healing through active engagement (crafts, walks). Biofeedback is a process of gaining control of physical processes and brainwaves (mind over body). Expressive therapies are a form of psychotherapy that involves the arts (music, art, dance, drama, and poetry). Group therapy involves any type of therapy that takes place in a setting involving multiple people. Psychotherapy is the general term for scientific based treatment of mental health issues based on modern medicine. Meditation can bring about reductions in depression, anxiety and stress. Mindfulness meditation may also be effective in treating substance use disorder. Spiritual counseling offers comfort and support to help gain a better understanding of issues and develop a problem-solving relationship (Centers for …show more content…
The older you are, the more likely you will need long-term care. If you live alone, you’re more likely to need paid care. Don’t forget that women outlive men by about five years on average (What is Long 1). Another reason for needed care is if someone has an accident or chronic illness that causes a disability. Between ages 40 and 50, on average, eight percent of people have a disability, and 69 percent of people age 90 or more have a disability. Chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure also add to the mix. Family history with parents or grandparents having chronic conditions, may increase the likelihood. Of course this country is also plagued by poor diet choices with convenience or fast food. That compounded with lower exercise habits will increase your chances of needing long-term care down the

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