Developing healthy habits is key to sound mental health

Senior Priority

Developing healthy habits is key to sound mental health

ROCKY PATAL , M . D.

By Rocky Patal, M.d,

There are many issues that deserve a spotlight when it comes to senior healthcare, but mental health is proving more important than ever according to One Medical’s Senior Health Medical Director Rocky Patel, MD. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (52.9 million in 2020).” And recent reporting from the World Health Organization highlights how the “first year of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%.”

Rocky Patel, MD, a provider at One Medical, a modernized primary care practice offering convenient, humancentered care across every stage of life, shares his insights on senior mental health exclusively with Arizona Jewish Life and how treatment for mental and physical health goes hand in hand.

Why is it important for seniors to prioritize their mental health as they age? It is important for seniors to prioritize their mental health because in turn, we can treat their chronic conditions more effectively. Depending on the severity of their problems, prioritizing their mental health can also assist us with determining the level of professional help needed. Untreated mental health disorders in older adults can lead to diminished functioning, substance abuse, poor quality of life, and increased mortality.

Did you see a spike amongst seniors facing mental health problems during the pandemic and if so, what are some typical mental health problems that seniors face? Yes, throughout the pandemic, we saw spikes of anxiety in our seniors. Some typical mental health problems that seniors face are depression, anxiety and insomnia.

How do you identify if a senior is struggling with their mental health? Some ways you can tell a senior in your life is struggling with their mental health include:

Excessive anxiety or worry Long-lasting sadness or irritability Extreme changes in mood Social withdrawal Dramatic changes in sleeping or eating patterns

What can seniors do to improve their condition themselves or prevent a mental health crisis down the road? If seniors are experiencing any of the above signs, they should talk to their primary care provider about treatment options. It’s also important to develop healthy behaviors such as staying active (for example, walking around the block), eating a well-balanced diet, and getting a good night's sleep. Keeping the mind active with puzzles, games, or a new hobby is also important for brain health.

What are some ways you can support a senior struggling with their mental health?If a senior in your life is struggling with their mental health, simply being there along the way is helpful. Going on walks with them, making meals and eating with them, playing games together or even finding them a support group are great ways to help them feel connected. And of course, if their condition worsens, schedule an appointment with their primary care provider to review the best course of action to improve their mental wellbeing.

One Medical is a modernized primary care practice providing highquality care to all ages, with four locations in the Greater Phoenix area, including Biltmore, Scottsdale Fashion Square, SunTan Village and Kierland Commons. One Medical prioritizes mental health as an integral part of its overall care approach. Its mission is to make receiving quality care more affordable, accessible, and enjoyable while providing care intentionally designed around aging patients’ needs. One Medical first opened its doors in Arizona in spring 2015 with the successive openings of its.

One Medical stands apart with its more personalized primary care experience, catered to each patient's needs, from longer appointments with providers, on-site lab services and proactive reminders about care needs. They are uniquely positioned to deliver a more modernized healthcare relationship through their membership (just $199/year - cheaper than one year of a premium Netflix subscription) makes it easy for patients to get care when and where they need it through the One Medical app and website. Patients can even add caretakers as approved users to their One Medical member profile to help manage their care, perfect for keeping families plugged into the status and needs of senior family members' health.