Older Adults and Mental Health

Background

Mental illness is not a normal part of aging.

One out of every five older adults is living with mental illness. Older adults can be affected by mental illness through no fault of their own. It is not a normal part of aging and may be mistaken for other conditions.

Symptoms may be viewed as signs of dementia or the changes that older adults may experience in awareness, perception, reasoning and judgment. They may begin as people age or may have been present for a long time but not diagnosed or treated.

Mental illness can affect physical and emotional well-being, as well as daily functioning and relationships with others. Older adults can also be at risk for suicide.

It is important that a comprehensive assessment of symptoms be completed. Such an assessment needs to include ruling out other medical issues that may be causing the symptoms, such as a health condition or medication side effects.

Signs and symptoms

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses experienced by older adults. Other disorders, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, may have been present since a younger age but have never been diagnosed.

Have you noticed any of these symptoms in yourself or in an older person you know?

Mental health recovery begins with one step.

Senior LinkAge Line® can help. Senior LinkAge Line® provides free information and assistance to any Minnesota resident. Staff at Senior LinkAge Line® will help to locate county and statewide Minnesota resources that meet your needs.

Senior LinkAge Line® specialists can help find information on medical and mental health care, and resources for affordable medications and other treatments. Their information and assistance specialists provide more than just information—they care. All calls are confidential and free of charge. Only discuss the questions and personal information that you feel comfortable sharing.

With community locations throughout Minnesota and a statewide toll-free number (800-333-2433),every Minnesotan can access Senior LinkAge Line®. Senior LinkAge Line® is answered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Messages can be left 24 hours a day. MinnesotaHelp.info® website offers more details, resources and a live chat with a specialist.

Immediate crisis response service is available on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis for persons having a psychiatric crisis, a mental health crisis, or emergency. A directory of mental health crisis phone numbers in Minnesota lists all crisis providers by county. There is a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that is a toll-free number 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Older adults and mental health video and printed materials web page

Related Pages

• Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT)
• Governor's Mental Health Initiative
• How do I get mental health services?
• MN Health Care Programs - MH Services
• MHCP MH codes & rates
• Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS)
• Assertive Community Treatment
• Co-occurring disorders-IDDT
• Illness Management & Recovery
• Crisis response services
• Children's mental health
• Mental Health bulletins
• Mental Health licensing
• MHCP for adults with disabilities
• Crisis phone numbers
• MN 10 by 10- SMI Lifespan
• Peer Specialist Services
• Outpatient-Rule 47
• DBT Services
• MH Case Management
• Older adults and mental health
• Preadmission screening & resident review (PASSR)

Related Links

• Evidence-based mental health practices resource kits
• Minnesota State Advisory Council on Mental Health
• Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
• Civil commitment information
• National Institute of Mental Health
• Minnesota Workforce Center Rehabilitation Services
• Suicide prevention
• Information about medications
• Patients’ Bill of Rights
• Minnesota Advance Psychiatric Directive and Health Care Directive (PDF)
• County Web sites