Senior Depression - Mental Health Services in Long-Term Care Facilities
For seniors who live independently, mental health is largely dependent on their capacity for self awareness and their willingness to seek appropriate care. For those living in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, the situation is a little more tenuous. As the numbers show, depressive and behavioral disorders are prevalent in these settings. In addition to the usual stresses associated with aging, such as loss of loved ones, physical deterioration, and fears related to death, seniors in long-term care facilities often struggle with increased isolation and debilitating physical ailments, which can exacerbate latent mental issues. Since residents of senior facilities are often in poor health and have decreased cognitive functioning, it`s not always easy to evaluate and treat these individuals. How Medicare Helps Seniors with Depression The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 stipulated screenings for mental illness and the reduced use of physical and chemical restraints. As...