Geriatric Mental Health

With age comes wisdom and experience. At twilight, one possesses life skills to weather any storm, skills which are built painstakingly over a life time. But ageing has its own blues stemming from challenges like deteriorating physical health, loss of independence, financial insecurity, social isolation, and loss. 

Ageing is inevitable, it is beyond our control. But what is in our control is how we choose to age. Ageing should be a positive experience - through our Geriatric Mental Health Programme, we hope to take a firm step forward towards achieving this goal. While we provide evidence-based interventions aimed at managing acute mental health conditions, our overarching  vision is to make a difference in the long term mental health by increasing autonomy, improving ability to perform basic tasks of daily living, increasing social connectedness and strengthening family relationships. 

Understanding Geriatric Mental Health

When we consider the elderly population, some research consider people above 60 years  as falling in the geriatric age group while other studies include  those above 65 years of age in the group. One of the most common mental health conditions in this age group is depressive disorder, referred to as late life depression (LLD).   Sometimes we may believe that feelings of dullness or a change in mood is merely part of ageing, and individuals and their families do no seek help. However, we fail to fathom that these changes are in fact due to undiagnosed depression. 

At other times an elderly person may start forgetting day to day events, falter in daily activities like buttoning their shirt or making the bed. They may gradually show an inability to comprehend instructions. Learnt language and motor skills may diminish. Often these changes are so insidious to start with that it is often very hard for caregivers to pinpoint the exact time of onset of symptoms.  These cognitive symptoms unfold from less severe to more disabling ones over time. The initial phase of less severe symptoms is referred to as  mild cognitive impairment (MCI), while more severe symptoms which interfere with daily life meet the criteria for dementia. 

Sometimes the symptoms of LLD, MCI and dementia may seem overlapping. Also some associated conditions like diabetes, vascular accidents like stroke, heart diseases or Parkinson’s disease may also have an impact.  Caring for the elderly therefore calls for meticulous assessment, timely liaisoning with experts of various medical fields, proper and continuous monitoring for a period of time to arrive at a diagnosis and plan treatment accordingly. We at Adayu are committed to do so and ensure quality inpatient mental health care.

Assessment: 

Here, the mainstay of treatment is the detailed initial assessment of the patient. The assessment would include a diligent understanding of how your symptoms have evolved over a period of time chronologically, with equal emphasis on the physical and medical conditions (whether antecedent or subsequent to the psychological symptoms) in collaboration with medical experts from different departments. 

The importance of cognitive functions that may see a decline in old age and in psychological illnesses require a deep understanding of the psychological and neurocognitive processes. In addition, we will gain an in-depth psychosocial understanding of your support systems, family relations, lifestyle, and coping patterns. Routine and necessary ancillary investigations will be done. We also utilize standardized psychological tests to assist us in screening, diagnosing, monitoring severity and also maintaining a record of your response to treatment. 

Treatment:  

Our underlying philosophy in geriatric mental health care is to treat the acute condition and create a framework for long term care in the OPD, by proactively involving different stakeholders. We ensure round the clock monitoring and treatment in a safe and supportive environment.

Your safety, comfort and well-being are our top-most priority, and our facility has been designed keeping the mobility needs of the elderly in mind. Our hallways and rooms are spacious, allowing for easy navigation with mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers. Handrails are strategically placed to provide additional support to prevent accidental falls. Moreover, our facility is well-lit with clear signage and easy directions to help you navigate with ease.

Medical management: 

Given the fact that these mental health conditions are intricately entangled with medical issues and with the psychosocial milieu, our treatment begins with concerted planning by a team of psychiatrist, psychologist and other medical experts to sew together a personalized plan including medicines and other therapeutic approaches. Through a scrupulous use of medicines, we ensure efficacious treatment while also optimizing the doses methodically so as to minimize any undesired effects of the medicines concerned.

Psychotherapy: 

A prominent area of focus in our work  the elderly  is on their psychological processes. These can range from addressing cognitive aspects which impact how we think about situations, working on activities of daily living through a behavioural therapeutic approach, or a more supportive approach to help individuals and families cope with the changes that the illness brings. 

At Adayu, we understand that creative arts can reach even the most cognitively impaired, for creativity comes from somewhere beyond the intellect. Using art therapy, people with impaired cognition can often express their feelings through the arts when words are difficult to find.

Neuro-Cognitive Retraining: 

Exercising the brain is essential to keep the mind fit and alert. Practice regular cognitive training exercises which work on executive functions like memory, attention and problem solving. Such mental tasks increase activation in the brain and slow down further neurocognitive changes. Engaging in organic farming and playing board games are other such means to stimulate various parts of the brain. 

We have also introduced newer advances and innovations in the realm of neurocognitive retraining. Our treatment protocols will include the use of virtual reality based activities, with a special focus on memory.

Yoga and meditation sessions with our in-house teacher will work on restoring a sense of calm and equilibrium. We also have a dedicated physiotherapist to address any physical discomfort such as muscle aches or stiffness, and guide you through gentle exercises improve your muscle strength and mobility. 

Aftercare:  Ageing is a continuous process and we are committed to make it a positive experience for you.  As you leave the hospital premises, we will psycho-educate you and your loved ones on how to identify any risk factors, re-emerging symptoms and plan regular follow ups. Our team will be available via our 24X7 emergency services and for both in-person sessions and via teleconsultation.