Senior Citizens: What You Should Know About Mental Health

The impact of depression on health in older adults can be severe: much research has reported that depression is associated with worse health in people with conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Depression can complicate the treatment of these conditions, including making it more difficult for someone to care for him or herself and to seek treatment when needed. In older adults, depression may be disregarded as frailty, or it may be viewed as an inevitable result of life changes, chronic illness, and disability. Recognizing the signs and seeing a health practitioner is the first step to getting treatment, which can make a real difference in someone’s quality of life.

If you are concerned about your own or a loved one’s mental health, the National Institute of Mental Health offers the following warning signs:

· Noticeable changes in mood, energy level, or appetite

· Feeling flat or having trouble feeling positive emotions

· Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much

· Difficulty concentrating, feeling restless, or on edge

· Increased worry or feeling stressed

· Anger, irritability or aggressiveness

· Ongoing headaches, digestive issues, or pain

· A need for alcohol or drugs

· Sadness or hopelessness

· Suicidal thoughts

· Engaging in high-risk activities

· Obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior

· Thoughts or behaviors that interfere with work, family, or social life

In Lynnfield we are fortunate to have a fantastic Senior Center offers that offers a variety of health related programs and numerous opportunities for social interaction which are an important part of staying mentally healthy and engaged. According to Linda Naccarra, Director of Lynnfield Senior Center, staff are calling seniors every day to find out if they need help with groceries, ordering food online, or simply to be able to talk with someone. “We have the email addresses about 1,500 senior citizens who live in Lynnfield and send out information and resources to them several times each week,” said Naccarra.

Anyone over 60 years old that lives in Lynnfield can join the email list. To do so, simply call the Senior Center at (781) 598-1078, leave your name and phone number on answering machine and Linda Naccarra will call back to get your email address.

Once a senior is signed up, they will begin to receive emails about live and recorded classes with exercise instructors, the senior center chef, and others. Just this week, seniors received an email with a video titled “Applying Psychology to Understanding our Behavior During COVID-19,” by Dr. Beverly Dolinsky, a psychology professor at Endicott College. Dr. Dolinsky frequently speaks at the Senior Center when it in open.

To learn more about the Lynnfield Senior Center & Council On Aging, visit www.town.lynnfield.ma.us/council-aging or call (781) 598-1078. The Lynnfield Senior Center is located at 525 Salem Street in Lynnfield.