Mental Health Services for Older Adults

If I was to describe the mental health of an individual, I must be familiar with their overall well-being. Both mental health and well-being are associated with each other. If an individual is suffering from many health problems, the well-being of the person is also suffering and professional health attention is needed. Mental health issues are present in many young adults’ lives as well as the lives of the elderly/older adults. Today, there seems to be much more attention on creating mental health services for teens and younger adults than there is for the older adult’s population. Since society sees teens and younger adults as having very complex and stressful lives, more money and attention is being put on helping that specific age group with mental health concerns. What society doesn't recognize are the hardships that older adults face in their everyday lives. These hardships include physical ailments, mobility issues, chronic pain, cognitive and sensory impairments can affect one's functional ability. Other challenges such as retirement, changes in income, widowhood, the loss of friendships through death, and new care giving responsibilities can lead to social and emotional isolation (“Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario,” n.d.).

With an aging population, there is a high demand for mental health services for Canada’s older adults inside and outside the home. Many older adults living in long-term care institutions have mental health problems yet in Ontario, 88 percent of these institutions receive only five hours or less of psychiatric services per month for the entire resident population (Conn, 2002).  The majority of older adults would prefer to receive care at home; however a large amount must be placed in long-term care institutions. Providing long-term care institutions is one of the fastest growing sectors in health care and the services they provide are becoming more and more expensive (MacAdam, 2000). The statistics provided in this paragraph are not current; however the issues they outline  continue to be issues today. 

 I think the most appropriate ideological lens to use to analysis this issue would the Social Democracy ideology. Since this ideology focuses largely on the well-being of an individual and society, it fits well with my choice of mental health issues amongst older adults. Looking at this issue from a Social Democracy lens, it is clear that action must be taken to promote mental health care services for older adults. Many older adults experience mental health problems but don’t recognize the symptoms or are embarrassed to admit they are experiencing this type of problem. By promoting more mental health services for older adults, the population can become more aware of how common mental health problems are amongst the age group. More services will inform more people where they can seek help and testing for mental health problems. We are all seen as equal social actors in society in a social democracy perceptive therefore; more mental health services are necessary promotes equal mental health care for all ages. 

Action also must be taken to lower the cost of services associated with providing long-term care institutions for older adults. Many of the older adults in the long-term care institutions have mental health problems and seek the necessary medical help. However, many of the older adults with mental health problems can’t afford to pay for the services provided in institutions. It is not fair that a large percent of older adults must suffer with mental health problems because they are not able to afford the proper long-term care. The Social Democracy ideology would see creating equal opportunities for all older adults seeking medical attention necessary to maintain the overall structure in society. If more and more old adults don’t receive the care they need, it will affect the population, which in turn will affect how society operates.

-Lindsay 

References: 

Conn, David. (2002). An Overview of Common Mental Disorders among Seniors. Writings in Gerontology. National Advisory Council on Aging.

MacAdam, M. (2000). Home Care: It's Time for a Canadian Model.HealthcarePapers (1[4]: 9-36). Retrieved from www.longwoods.com.

Seniors : Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario. (n.d.). Home : Canadian Mental Health 

Association, Ontario (CMHA Ontario). Retrieved from http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/seniors.asp