Mental Health Awareness Month
May is mental health awareness month and is an opportunity to share awareness of how important mental health is. Some elderly patients in facilities for Alzheimer’s suffer from depression and family members and caregivers need to be on the lookout for signs of mental health issues. Recognizing the symptoms help mental issues from escalating keeping your loved ones from living a normal life.
Mental Health Awareness Month
The feeling of sadness, loneliness, or desolation at times is part of life when faced with struggles, challenges, and uncertainties. But when these feelings are experienced for a long time or become overwhelming, they can take a toll on your overall health.
In the United States alone, millions of Americans suffer mental health illnesses every year. During May, advocates join to educate people about these issues, share stories, and encourage engagement, provide support to people with mental health issues including residents in facilities for Alzheimer’s and their families.
For this year’s celebration, May 2022, your support aids in better mental health awareness. If you have personal experience with mental health issues, openly discuss this with friends or family. Or you can share the story of how this has affected a family member.
Or you can support organizations or nonprofits that support and provide services relating to mental health. You can donate your time or money for these organizations to continue with their services.
Lastly, learning the signs and symptoms will not only help save lives. Understanding mental illness shows you care for your loved ones and the residents in facilities for Alzheimer’s at the same time being there for them during their challenging journey.
The Effects of Alzheimer’s on Mental Health
People with Alzheimer’s can immensely impact their thoughts and feelings. Adults diagnosed with dementia will experience a range of emotions like anger, irritability, loss of hope and worthiness, fatigue, and more.
Having Alzheimer’s can cause anxiety and depression. Senior adults may find it hard to deal with these emotions which may also affect their food appetite and interest to seek further medication.
Being afraid about the future and uncertainties can leave feelings of hopelessness and loss of interest in life in general. The effects of Alzheimer’s can lead to recurring thoughts of death and suicide.
Ways to Support an Alzheimer’s Patient’s Mental Health
Maintaining a sound mind, body, and spirit will aid in improving seniors in facilities for Alzheimer’s daily life.
By knowing the key symptoms and learning the coping strategies, you can create a secure foundation in which your loved ones can cope with the challenges of this disease.
Help your loved ones adopt a healthy lifestyle by getting regular checkups, setting up an exercise routine, hearty meals, and getting sufficient rest.
It is also important that your loved ones can freely express their feelings. The range of emotions like agitation, frustration, or confusion can be overwhelming. Patients will need a lot of care and understanding during this time.
Help your loved ones connect with others with Alzheimer’s. Build a solid support group. Continue doing activities you both enjoy. Let them know you understand what they are going through.
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