It is the over 85 group which is the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population and a major reason we need to pay more attention to long-term care. According to the Department of Labor, older workers are those over 40. But that, too, is changing. The reality is that older adults are probably more varied than other age cohorts as they have had more years to develop their differences. They run the gamut from frisky to frail, from wealthy to poor and from socially active to isolated.
Many older adults have serious mental health problems, with depression being the most common.
Estimates are that nearly 15 percent of community living older adults and at least 25 percent of nursing home residents suffer from depression. Other problems include anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and cognitive impairment. Unfortunately, many of these mental health needs are unmet. This stems, in part, from the reluctance of many in this age cohort to seek mental health assistance. It is not just increasing numbers that make it important for us to serve as advocates for this group.