While most caregiving is provided by women, some older men find themselves in this role and are unprepared for the demands and stress. Many older men lack information about available services and programs or perceive the services and programs as being irrelevant to them. Mental Health Issues for Older Men Mental health problems are often overlooked or misinterpreted with older people, and mental health services are underutilized. This may be even more true for men than for women. Older men may have trouble acknowledging and seeking help for emotional or psychological problems.
Suicide is a serious problem among older men.
The suicide rate among older white men is higher than it is for any other age group, and is significantly higher than for women. For example, the rate for men age 75 to 84 is eight times higher than the rate for women of the same age. Depression, illness, and changes in marital status may contribute to the increased risk of suicide for older men. It is estimated that there are 1.8 million older men living alone. Men who are widowed or divorced at this time of their lives often lack self-care skills and become socially isolated, increasing the burdens of loneliness.