Assisted Living for People With Mental Health Disorders

Reviewed By: Dr. Brindusa Vanta, MD

If you've found your mental health declining as you age, you’re not alone. One quarter of all seniors report anxiety or depression. Men aged 65 and older are at the highest risk of suicide. Those age 85 and older, regardless of their gender, are the second-most likely age group to die from suicide in the United States. Older adults experience stressors that can impact mental health, including financial worries, grief and loneliness. Declining physical health and struggling with tasks you once found easy compound the situation. However, poor mental health isn’t a normal part of aging.

Despite the high rate of mental health concerns in seniors, less than 50% receive treatment, according to data from 2019. Senior living is one option for better mental health. An assisted living community provides stability, structure and support. Living in a community helps combat loneliness, which is one of the biggest contributors to depression. Having support with carrying out activities of daily living while simultaneously eliminating the need to cook or do housekeeping also lowers stress and gives seniors time to do what makes them happy. 

Understanding how senior living can benefit mental health can help you decide whether a move to assisted living can improve your well-being. 

Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive nervousness, fear and worry that interfere with your ability to function and be happy. It’s estimated that nearly 4% of older adults worldwide have an anxiety disorder.

Risk Factors for Seniors

• Chronic medical conditions
• General poor health
• Medication side effects
• Decreased mobility

How to Manage Anxiety

Typically, a combination of psychotherapy and medication manages anxiety disorders. It also helps to get plenty of sleep, avoid stimulants such as caffeine and talk about worries. Senior living can help ease worry or stress because you know there’s someone available to help in an emergency. 

Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings, from euphoria to depression. These swings impact your sleep, judgment,  behavior and daily activities. Although bipolar disorder is usually seen in young people, 0.1%-0.5% of seniors are diagnosed with late-onset bipolar illness.

Risk Factors for Seniors

• Gender; women are significantly more likely than men to experience bipolar disorder later in life. 
• Chronic illnesses, lack of sleep, age-related changes and medication may all play a role in the development of bipolar disorder in the elderly. 

How to Manage Bipolar Disorder

There are a number of medications that can help you manage bipolar disorder. Non-medication treatments include psychotherapy and stress management techniques. 

Depression is a mood disorder that affects how you feel, think and manage daily activities. Symptoms include feeling hopeless, irritable, sad or worthless. Other common signs include having difficulty with concentration, loss of energy and a loss of interest in hobbies and activities you once enjoyed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 1%-5% of older Americans living in the community and over 10% of seniors who are hospitalized or require home care have depression.

Risk Factors for Seniors

• Serious health conditions, such as cancer and heart disease
• Some medications

How to Manage Depression

Professionals can help you manage depression through psychotherapy and medications. It also helps to connect to family and friends, stay active and take care of your body by exercising, eating well and getting enough sleep.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that affect a person’s eating behaviors. Those with eating disorders are often preoccupied with their weight, food and body shape. Symptoms can include binge-eating, avoiding food, excessive exercise, use of laxatives or forced vomiting. As eating disorders are normally considered a disease of young people, there isn’t data about the number of older adults impacted. 

Risk Factors for Seniors

• Gender; women are at greater risk of developing eating disorders
• Hormone changes
• Reduced digestive ability
• Decrease in sense of taste and smell

How to Manage Eating Disorders

Psychotherapy and counseling services are useful to help people cope with eating disorders and self esteem issues. Residential senior care that provides meals in a community setting can help increase appetite and ensure you’re getting adequate nutrition.

Medication misuse is defined as improper use of  prescription medicine, including opioids, anti-anxiety medicines and stimulants. In 2018, nearly 1 million people age 65 or older reported having a substance use disorder.

Risk Factors for Seniors

• Changes in metabolism
• Increased sensitivity to drugs
• Taking more medications for other health conditions

How to Manage Medication Abuse

There are drug treatment centers designed specifically for seniors. This can include support groups for older adults with substance use disorder. Doctors recommend inpatient treatment if detox is needed, as seniors are at increased risk of complications.

In addition to specific risk factors for the conditions discussed above, there are more general risk factors for mental health conditions that older adults experience. These include:

• Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
• Certain medications
• Chronic pain
• Chronic stress
• Grief
• Isolation and loneliness
• Change of life circumstances, such as retirement or loss of a spouse

Mental illness often goes undiagnosed in seniors. Symptoms can be dismissed as normal signs of aging, meaning older adults don’t get the care they need. The following warning signs could indicate that you’re experiencing mental illness:

• Fighting with friends and family
• Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
• Feeling emotionless
• Thinking of hurting yourself or others
• Feeling angry, upset, confused or scared
• Withdrawing socially
• No longer maintaining personal care routines
• Loss of interest in activities

There are many living options for seniors that can benefit people with mental health conditions. Different housing options work for different people. 

For seniors with mental health conditions, senior living can be a step toward restoring their well-being. The benefits of assisted living for seniors with mental health disorders include:

• A sense of belonging: Assisted living facilities come with a built-in community and opportunities for socialization.
• Peace of mind: Staff are always on-site, alleviating worries about falls, medications and other issues.
• Healthy routines: The routines reduce stress and help ensure personal needs are taken care of.
• Engagement and activities: Friends and activities in assisted living communities give residents a new sense of purpose. 

The stability, structure and sense of community found in assisted living can help seniors manage mental health issues. Here are some signs that it may be time to for an older adult to consider a senior living community:

• Unwillingness or inability to care for themselves
• Social isolation
• A need for help managing medication
• An inability to follow their treatment plan
• Independent living is no longer safe
• Rising anxiety over safety concerns or isolation

Senior living isn’t for everybody. People who experience moderate-to-severe mental health symptoms may not be able to get the care they need in senior communities. In most states, assisted living facilities can’t accept residents if they pose a danger to themselves or others, as they require special medical care. Staff in assisted living facilities do not have specialized mental health training, which can limit the type of care they offer.