Updated: 03/20/2024
In general, the majority of adults await the latter years of their lives with enthusiasm. However, some find it difficult to cope with the hindrances posed by the natural process of aging. This often leaves their loved ones searching for geriatric counseling near me.
It is not uncommon for adults to face corporeal or mental issues during the transition to their late years and professional help from a geriatric counselor near you or online can aid in overcoming these issues.
This piece is a featured article in our ‘Local Therapy Finder: Discovering the Best Therapists Near You‘ series, aimed at guiding you to the top local therapy options across various specialties. In this article, we focus on identifying the best Geriatric therapy available in your vicinity, offering insights into making an informed choice for your mental health needs.
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Online Geriatric Counseling Focuses On Aging Issues
Many adults anticipate the later stage of their life fervently. This comes along with retirement, which allows for more family time and a new chapter in their lives. But, some adults are afraid of the mental and physical tolls of old age.
For some adults, retirement can be difficult. The same can be said when it comes to facing more medical conditions and lacking interest in activities because of the physical difficulties they generate.
As they get older, many senior citizens are in fear of death, which is augmented when their family and friends are passing away. Many of them might also find it hard to take care of themselves. This is aggravated by Alzheimer’s disease and various types of dementia, which affect around one in ten retired Americans.
Another perennial issue faced by older adults is ageism, which is the prejudice against an individual based on their age. This can lead to many problems for older individuals, including early retirement and disregard by people precious to them.
In fact, ageism is such a prevalent issue, that, as stated by a United Nations Population survey, the majority of adults in the sample have encountered occasions of disdain. Specifically, 37% of individuals over the age of 60 faced ageism in the previous year, while 43% expressed fear of being mistreated. In addition, many older individuals have financial problems, with 47% fretting about money “very often” or “always” and over 50% of adults over 60 having trouble affording even essential services, while 66% of them indicated a desire to work.
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Geriatric Counseling For Medical Issues
Many older adults have trouble differentiating between symptoms of mental or physical ailment and the typical consequences of the process of aging. While some individuals over the age of 65 show little to no signs of aging, the majority of them will show some form of cognitive impairment. According to research, many older individuals in good health can exhibit a slight decrease in areas such as:
- visual and auditory perception
- oral and optical memory
- the ability to remember names or places, or short-term memory
- vitality and appetite
- corporeal strength
Professional help from an online geriatric counselor can assist older individuals in adapting to these shifts and discerning them from actual diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s conditions. The aforementioned diseases could require visiting an internist or psychiatrist.
There are various ways to lessen the consequences of these impairments. People who associate with or take care of older individuals can utilize prompts, in a clearly written manner, to act as reminders or use auditory means in cases of visual impairment. Also, proper articulation combined with simple language that concentrates on the necessary details is essential.
These forms of aid can help older individuals, who face a decline in their physical or mental capacity, adapt to their changing condition and allow them to carry on with their lives with dignity and pleasure. Gerontology counseling can help to teach these skills.
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Geriatric Counseling For Mental Health
While many older individuals undergo a minor decrease in their mental capacity with age progression, some of them might be afflicted with a form of dementia. This can induce considerable brain damage while also affecting the emergence of other ailments such as stress, depression, and paranoia. Most notably, Alzheimer’s, which is the most prevalent type of dementia accounting for 50 to 80% of all patients with dementia in the United States, is a gradual disease that also affects cerebral function and memory.
Statistical figures reveal that 20% of individuals older than 60 experience a mental health disease. Some of the most common ones are:
- Depression, which is frequently not properly diagnosed or attended to. While depression manifests in about 7% of older individuals, those who live communally have exhibited a lower percentage than younger individuals.
- Increased number of suicides, with individuals in older age groups showing the largest percentages of suicides.
- Issues with sleep and sexual debilitation, which exhibit a positive correlation with age progression.
Problems with behavior, engendered by conditions like dementia, delirium, or depression. These include verbal abuse, hyperactivity, and overall aggressive behavior. - Anxiety, which is present in about 6% of old individuals
- Drugs and alcohol abuse, with 1% of women and 2-5% of men 65 or older being addicted to them. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the number of Americans aged 50 to 70 in danger of developing an addiction to marijuana or alcohol will have reached 50% by 2020.
Geriatric Care Counseling
I have found that geriatric care counseling can be a great way to assist older individuals who might find it hard to cope with the consequences of getting older. It can show them novel ways to find purpose and pleasure in their lives, while also helping them to control their feelings better.
Also, it can aid them in confronting their fear of passing away, along with managing their sorrow when a loved one departs. Gerontology therapy can also be paramount for relatives that might be tending to the elderly, as it can show them the proper way to communicate with them, which is crucial in cases of mental illness such as dementia, and help them handle their feelings. If an older individual is affected by dementia or other mental illnesses like stress or depression, gerontology therapy can even assist in relieving some of their symptoms.
In recent years, there has also been an increase in the number of older people who look for professional help for mental problems independent of aging issues. These increased numbers correlate to the shift in perception regarding mental conditions which derives from the improved cognizance of the general public. In previous decades, when many older people were raised, mental conditions were condemned and the majority of cognitive problems experienced by the elderly were disregarded as dementia or old age.
However, nowadays, geriatric counseling services are a much more socially accepted type of treatment and older individuals are more conscious of their finite lifespan. Therefore, they seek out treatment more frequently, attending to matters from their early lives as well as contemporary problems, and showing more fruitful results than younger individuals.
Another explanation for the higher numbers of older individuals attending geriatric counseling services near them and online is the overall increased lifespan of the general population. For example, a 60-year-old individual is expected to live for another 15 to 20 years. Since this period marks their entry into their elderly life, some individuals tend to ask for therapy as a result of self-contemplation.
Finding The Best Geriatric Counseling Services Near Me & Online
Most people seeking the best aging counseling near me will start by asking their insurance company or primary doctor for a referral. However, if you live in a rural area, you may find it very challenging to locate the best geriatric counseling near you. While those in urban areas may find this task easier, scheduling in-person geriatric counseling near you is often inconvenient, not to mention the hassle of trying to take your aging loved one out of the comfort of their home. I have seen this struggle firsthand and it can sometimes make the problems worse, instead of better.
Recently, I have been recommending people seek counseling for aging online. Not only is it more convenient, but it is also typically much more affordable. On top of that, the selection of aging therapists online will be far greater than what most will be able to find in their local area.
BetterHelp is the best online geriatric counseling service that I recommend. You can easily get started by clicking the button below, answering a few questions, and then getting matched with a licensed counselor.
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