The first week of May is National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week. It’s the perfect opportunity for older adults to reevaluate their mental health and make necessary changes if needed. Below, you’ll find all of the information that you need to know about anxiety and depression, as well as what you can do to overcome them.
The most important thing you can do for yourself is to learn how to identify the signs of depression and anxiety. These mental conditions aren’t a normal part of the aging process. If you find that you have one or both of anxiety and depression, then you can improve your life by addressing them now. The first step in that process is understanding the common symptoms of each condition.
Depression in older adults can look like:
Anxiety in older adults can look like:
If you or someone that you know has these symptoms, then it’s important that you take action to address them. Doing so will only help the person who may be suffering from anxiety or depression.
Get Your Free 2021 Guide to Medicare
The best thing that you can do for your mental health is to visit a mental health professional. They can help you work through the root causes of your problems and help you brainstorm solutions for them. This kind of work is almost always the first step towards improving your mental health.
If you decide to visit a psychiatrist, they may also prescribe you medication for your anxiety or depression. This can help to resolve the chemical components of your condition that you have little control over. Medication isn’t right for everyone, though. So be sure to speak with your doctor about it if you’re unsure.
Another way that you can fight back against anxiety and depression is by taking better care of yourself. Studies have shown that people who eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly are generally happier and more content than those who don’t. Similarly, spending more time with friends and family that you love is one of the best ways to improve your mental health.
Seeking professional help with anxiety or depression isn’t always easy. It can be especially challenging to do so if you’re concerned about how you would pay for the visit. However, you may be able to solve that issue by utilizing your Medicare health insurance.
Medicare will cover the cost of one depression screening per year. You can move forward from there based on your doctor’s recommendation. You may even be able to have the costs of future mental health sessions and medications covered by your Medicare plan.
The best way to find out your coverage options for sure is to contact a partnered licensed agent with Time for 65. They’re the Medicare experts who can tell you more about what your Medicare plan can do for you. Get in touch with one today by either filling out this form or giving us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!
Get Your Free 2021 Guide
to Medicare