Mental Illness Awareness Week falls from October 2nd to the 8th. People often associate mental illness with teens and young adults, but it also affects older adults. One out of five adults 55 or older have some form of mental illness, with anxiety and depression being two of the most common.

If your mom has been diagnosed with mental illness or you suspect she has it, it’s important to support her. Arrange to have others helping her and make sure she seeks professional care. These tips can help you approach her about her mental and emotional health.

Go At Her Pace

When your mom is dealing with depression or anxiety, she cannot be pushed. If you push her too hard, she may shut you out. She needs to know she’s supported and that you’re happy to go at her pace.

On the days she’s struggling, support her by asking what she needs or wants. She might not know, but it can help her just to know you’ll support her. 

Help Her Find the Support She Needs

Your mom may need to see several doctors or therapists before she finds the right team to support her mental health needs. Support her in this quest. Offer to accompany her to different appointments and ask questions if she’s anxious or shutting down and can’t do it on her own.

Sit down with your mom on a quiet day and ask her what she’d want to ask a doctor or therapist before deciding to make an appointment. Pre-screen possible professionals for her using that list of questions.

Find Ways to Help Her Meditate

If your mom experiences anxiety, it can be crippling. She may become fearful of leaving the comfort of her home, which makes it hard to go shopping, attend appointments, or visit others. 

Meditation can help. Yoga or Tai Chi benefits some people with mental illness, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Your mom may find that walking outside, sitting in the sun, or dancing to music helps her push through and feel better.

You’ll need to slowly work with her to find the measures that help her push back against anxiety. If a panic attack hits, your mom needs support. She might want you to hold her arm or hand to reassure her she’s not alone. She may need you to distract her and pull her out of the focus on that rush of adrenaline that triggers her racing heart, confusion, and numbness.

Have you considered the benefits of home care? When mental illness impacts your dad’s daily routine, it’s important to arrange the support he needs to avoid loneliness or isolation. Contact a home care agency to discuss services and prices for caregivers.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care in Anderson, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/mental_health.pdf

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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