Senior Horizons:
Geriatric Mental Health Services

St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center, provides a caring, supportive environment specifically designed to meet the mental health needs of people 55 years and older. Through a structured plan of individual counseling, group therapy, coordinated activities and family support, patients are given the opportunity for renewal of social, physical and mental skills.

Knowing the Warning Signs

Aging can present many life challenges that the older generation is often unable to resolve. These challenges may include decreasing physical or mental capabilities, the inability to live independently, or the loss of lifetime companions. For more effective treatment it is imperative that senior adults' medical and emotional needs be assessed together.

When stress becomes too severe for an older person to manage, it usually becomes apparent in their behavior. Warning signs that may indicate the need for treatment include:

• Disorientation
• Depression
• Confusion
• Severe memory loss
• Hallucinations
• Increased social withdrawal
• Suicidal tendencies
• Sleep disturbances
• Extreme fluctuations in weight
• Loss of interest in appearance

Although these behaviors may be frequently experienced by older adults, they are not always a normal part of aging. In many cases, the true cause may be psycho-physiologic and very treatable. With effective therapy and enhanced coping skills, independence can be maintained or improved to provide an improved lifestyle.

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