May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s the perfect opportunity for older adults to reassess their current mental health situation and to take action if it’s needed. In order to do that, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with some of the most pressing mental health concerns facing older adults and what experts recommend you do about them. Keep reading to learn more.
According to the National Council on Aging, one in four older adults experiences at least one mental disorder. The most common mental health concerns among this population are depression, anxiety, and dementia.
Mental health issues like these are not a normal part of the aging process. If you have one, then it’s important that you take action to improve your well-being. This may involve using your Medicare health insurance to consult with a physician. However, there are also other strategies that you can use to improve your mental health.
Studies have shown that anger is actually more harmful to the health of older adults than sadness. That means that if you struggle with anger, then your first step should be to find new ways of dealing with it. This could involve taking up meditation, using humor, changing your environment, or even avoiding the things that trigger your anger
If you’ve been struggling with depression or anxiety, then exercise could be just what you need to regain your positivity. Exercise is a proven method of decreasing anxiety and depression. It’s also an activity that will boost your physical health. Try to get 30 minutes of some kind of exercise in at least five days out of the week. Doing so could help you significantly improve your mental health.
You may also want to consider broadening your social network. Studies have found that individuals with a high number of social connections are generally happier than those with less. You could start spending more time with your family, rekindle old friendships, or make new ones. Many older adults find value in joining groups that focus on specific hobbies. For example, you might be interested in joining an exercise group, a book club, or even a fishing group.
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Implementing the strategies discussed above can certainly help you to live a better life. However, if you think that you need to be evaluated by a mental health professional, you should be proactive about it. Doing so will only help you get back to feeling like yourself faster.
If you’d like to see a mental health professional, your Medicare health insurance can help you do it. Medicare covers the cost of one free depression screening each year. You won’t have to pay a thing as long as your doctor accepts the assignment.
Medicare can also help older adults pay for highly effective mental health treatments like therapy. Want to learn more about how you can use Medicare to pay for mental health treatment? Consider reaching out to a partnered licensed agent through Time for 65.
Our agents are Medicare experts who can tell you more about what your coverage can do for you. You can get in touch with one today by either filling out this form or giving us a call. We hope to hear from you soon!
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