Retirement, losing a partner due to death, suffering from chronic-degenerative disease and thinking about death are some of the scenarios that trigger depression in the elderly.
The above was elaborated by the psychologist of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León Xochital Angelica Ortiz JimenezWhich specifies that this mental health problem in the elderly manifests in symptoms of isolation, irritability, low tolerance for frustration, and sleep and eating disorders.
At present, this situation makes us very cautious, because the main emotional disorders in the elderly are anxiety and depression. And it started because of the pandemic and we are still seeing its effects today, besides more changes at the cognitive level, such as memory failure and other mental disorders.
All of the above is relevant, according to National Survey on Health and Aging in Mexico 2021 According to INEGI, there was an increase in the prevalence of depression in the population aged 60 years and above who were diagnosed with COVID-19.
It has also been indicated that, in 2018, 26.4 The percentage of this population group was suffering from this mental health problem and in 2021 it increased 35.5 Percent.
On the other hand, people aged 60 years and above who did not get corona virus 29.3 In 2018 the percentage had depression and in 2021 this figure was 26.9 Percent.
Nowadays, when it comes to isolation, many times it is confused that he has become old and does not like to go out anymore. However, although it has returned to normal, some elders comment that, since they could not go out in this health condition, they currently say why they go out. They themselves maintain this behavior of reduced sociality as an effect of the pandemic, although we have already returned to activities.
Recognize symptoms and exercise, do a group or occupational therapy activity where there is interaction with other people, do cognitive stimulation exercises that allow active and functional attention, memory or language processes to be maintained and go to psychological therapy Is. Fight depression and anxiety.
death and depression
Death is a topic that keeps resonating in the thoughts of the elderly and later depression begins to appear.
This is where thoughts arise such as: “There is no point in living if I am no longer useful or good for anything” or “My children are grown up, have made their own lives and are in the first place.” professional since then, what do I live for”, which, according to UANL psychologist Xochital Ortiz, is essential to finding meaning in life.
This is when a loss of meaning in life appears, but it is also related to culture and, if we go further, the question is: what are we giving older adults, that is, what can they do or Where can they go? In fact, socially and culturally, we have limited them.”
“It is important to examine the reasons for survival in them, by asking them: what they did not do in their youth because they spent all their time working, but what can they do now even in old age? As a community, it is important to create and manage places where you can age with dignity, with mental and physical health”, explains the expert in neuropsychology.
On the other hand, there is another group of old people who do not fear death as they have achieved many goals during their life and accept this phase as a cycle of life.
However, one scenario that resonates with them is how they are going to die, as they want a death that is not painful and that does not take long to come.
“In this case, they are afraid of a long illness, because they don’t want to cause problems for their children, so they express thoughts like: ‘I hope this is a death in which I will sleep,'” they say.
dignity of elders
For Angelica Ortiz Jiménez, professor-researcher at the Faculty of Psychology at UANL Xochital, it is relevant to know that not all aging is a decline in health, but that healthy aging also exists.
I believe that this capacity for resilience has a lot to do with actively coping with whatever life throws at it, but it is important to dignify respect for elders, through actions and public policies, because We’re all going to get older and we all want places that allow us to feel useful and active in our community. Let us pledge to change the attitude towards healthy ageing.