Staying positive in the twilight years

Generally speaking, the older generation doesn’t know much about depression. They think that visiting a mental health doctor or psychologist means that they have a mental illness, and that’s why they are often resistant to seeking professional advice. Wai Wai Kwok, Clinical Psychologist and Training Director at JC JoyAge: Holistic Support Project for Elderly Mental Wellness has some tips that will help to reduce their unwillingness to seek medical advice and help alleviate any symptoms of depression they may be having.

• The elderly are more willing to seek medical advice when they physically don’t feel well. Families should therefore focus on the more obvious physical symptoms that the elderlies themselves know they have. These include: insomnia, lack of appetite and loss of memory. This will make it easier to bring them to doctors or social workers.
• Loneliness is major symptom of depression. When they feel less lonely, their physical and mental health improve. So apart from medication therapy, bringing the elderly to join happy and meaningful activities so that they can establish new relationships will help to lessen their feelings of loneliness.
• Take a look at their social circle and try to understand who or what may be bothering them that you may not be aware of.
• Encourage them to exercise and get enough exposure to sunlight as both are effective mood enhancers.

The elderly typically prefer to stay in their comfort zone. They often refuse to change and even set limits on themselves. But elderlies nowadays are healthier and live longer; they are still able to live a fulfilling life and don’t have to trap themselves as they age. Let’s listen to Wai Wai Kwok as she shares some useful ways of keeping the elderly in good mental and physical health.