Myths on Mental Health Issues in Older Adults

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Myths on Mental Health Issues in Older Adults

• Marsha Obremski, MPA
• Executive Director
• The Pavilion at Williamsburg

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DISCLAMIER

• All views or opinions presented are
• solely mine and do not represent
• those of Diamond Healthcare

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• Myth
• Most inpatient psychiatric admissions come from
  LTC facilities.

Fact A higher percentage of admissions are
coming from home. 2007 2010 38 51
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• Myth
• Memory Impairment and Depression are related.

Fact They can be related, but studies are
inconclusive. Depression does not always affect
memory, but memory impairment may cause
depression. There are multiple contributing
factors such as poly-pharmacy and unresolved
grief.
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• Myth
• Older adults are at a higher risk for suicide.

Fact Young adults ages 40-59 have the highest
rates of depression and suicidal attempts, but
males 85 and older have the highest rate of
completion.
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• Myth
• The Psychiatric diagnosis drives the treatment
  plan.

• Fact
• The diagnosis is a billing tool.
• Quality treatment plans take into
  consideration social issues, medication issues,
  personality issues, behavioral issues, medical
  problems and resources.

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• Myth
• Psychotropic medications have increased the risk
  of falls in
• Long Term Care facilities.

Fact Multiple issues have to be evaluated as
contributors to patient falls. June issues of
the Journal of the American Geriatric Society and
The Annals of Long-Term Care noted that studies
are inconclusive. ALL medications must be
reviewed on a regular basis.
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• Myth
• All things resolve in timeTime heals all wounds
• (physical and emotional).

Fact Misdiagnosis of residual trauma plagues
older adults.
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Case Study

• 82 year-old female is having difficulty adjusting
  to
• living at a personal care home
• Sleep disturbance
• Appetite disturbance
• Crying spells
• Isolating
• Begging family to please let her go home
• Irritability and anger
• Diagnosis
• Depression or Adjustment Disorder with Depressed
• Mood

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Residual Trauma

• Sexually abused as a child and never told anyone
• during her 82 years.
• Fear of the dark her children said she always
  slept with the lights on. Her roommate did not
  want the lights on.
• Staff coming in her room at night re-traumatized
  her
• She began having nightmares about the trauma
• She couldnt connect the dots of what was going
  on because she thought she was over it
• Without therapy, this woman would have continued
  to suffer. It is likely her symptoms would have
  been treated via poly-pharmacy.

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• Myth
• Mental health issues arejust part of normal aging
  
• process. You are just getting old

Fact Despite the development of the specialty of
Geriatric Psychiatry, older Americans continue
to be the unrecognized group with increasing
rates of untreated mental health
disorders, alcoholism and prescription drug abuse.
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• Myth
• Medication alone is the best treatment for older
  adults. Besides
• they are too set in their ways to benefit from
  counseling.

Fact Medication and group psychotherapy has the
best results. We need to continue to work on
buy in from the medical community and
those who work with older adults.
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• Myth
• Outreach and education has decreased the stigma
• associated with mental health Treatment.

• Fact
• Only 39 of people who suffer from a mental
  health disorder get treatment from a mental
  health professional.
• 74 of people seek treatment from their
  primary care physician.
• 50 are misdiagnosed.
• 80 are given too little medication for too
  short of time or multiple meds over a prolonged
  period of time.

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The Pavilion at Williamsburg PlaceOPENING
JANUARY 2012

• Older Adult Program
• Acute Adult Program
• Psychiatrically Impaired Professionals
• Military Personnel and Dependents