Senior Citizens Expressing Acute Mental Symptoms: Urgent Need for Support and Treatment is Not Identified in the Community

The intention was to study the reactions to mental symptoms in older people in a rural community and assess how such people would obtain appropriate support in the local service system. In this study, nearly one third of the residents were found to be unaware of the urgent need for treatment of senior citizens. It isa challenge to increase the alertness and sensitivity of the population torecognize acute mental symptoms. The healthcare system should improve understanding and cooperation between the community, the healthcare professionals, and local politicians.

The prevalence of depression as a mental disorder is high among older citizens who do not have memory diseases. According to epidemiologic studies in Finland, 16% of women over 65 and 12% of men over 65 suffer from mild or moderate depression (Pahkala et al., 1995). In addition, among the elderly, the prevalence of mental disorders related to somatic diseases is increasing (Perälä et al., 2007). Adverse drug events also create a risk in older people (Budnitz, Lovegrove, Shehab & Richards, 2011; Salonoja et al., 2010). A senior citizen with delirium symptoms or acute confusion should have a comprehensive examination (O’Mahoney et al., 2011). Read more....................