Older Women And Depression

Discover the latest research on the mental health concerns of older women Women are the primary consumers of mental health services, however, there is a paucity of research on their specific needs. Mental Health Issues of Older Women: A Comprehensive Review for Health Care Professionals presents a comprehensive overview for health care professionals, educators, and students on the study of mental health problems of aging women. This resource provides the latest research and informed perspectives by seasoned mental health clinicians. A wide range of mental health problems are explored, including dementia, cognitive impairment, alcohol abuse, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety disorders, traumatic and dissociative disorders, sexual and eating disorders, and personality disorders. Mental Health Issues of Older Women provides practicing therapists and counselors with a much-needed research update and a broad clinical perspective from respected experts. This book uses current psychiatric diagnoses as a framework to gain greater depth of understanding to address the mental health issues of older women. Students and health professionals will discover valuable information, inspiration, and encouragement in their work with middle-aged and older women who are facing mental health challenges. This volume provides extensive references. Topics in Mental Health Issues of Older Women include: the role of cognitive impairment in older persons assessment tools and treatment options for older women who display alcohol use problems schizophrenia in older women major depressive disorder among older women therapeutic options for anxiety disorders under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed incidents of PTSD a provocative look at dissociative identity disorder sexual problems with treatment options eating disorders with treatment approaches effective treatment options for borderline personality disorder Mental Health Issues of Older Women provides practitioners, educators, students, researchers, and administrators with an essential review of the latest research and current issues on the mental health problems of older women.

"Studying the interaction of gender, class, race/ethnicity, and aging in the depression experience of older women provides a unique opportunity to understand how aging plays a significant role in shaping conceptions of self and emotional health trajectories for women. Based on author interviews with mostly working class, depressed elderly women, this book contributes to the theoretical understanding of femininity and aging and the practical implications for policy and effective health care treatment. Cultivating an "alternative self" can reduce older women's suffering and provide the emotional resources to change their inner worlds, even if the outer world stretches beyond their control. Depression affects women twice as often as men. Up to 40 percent of older adults respond poorly to depression treatment and depression is linked to higher morbidity and mortality rates and cognitive decline. Older adults with depression have 50 percent higher healthcare costs, yet depression is accurately recognized in less than one half of older adults in primary care. While older men are more likely to die by suicide, older women are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide, and depression is the best predictor of suicide in older adults. Latina and African-American women have lower rates of depression treatment compared to non-minority women. From issues of healthcare access to stigma of depression, older Latinas and African-American women are at an increased risk for untreated depression. This book seeks to address some of the significant gaps in our knowledge of late-life depression in women, especially in ethnic minorities, ranging from detection and efficacy of depression treatment to informal influences (e.g. family) on formal depression care seeking"--

Studying the interaction of gender, class, race/ethnicity, and aging in the depression experience of older women provides a unique opportunity to understand how aging plays a significant role in shaping conceptions of self and emotional health trajectories for women. Based on author interviews with mostly working-class, depressed, elderly women, this book contributes to the theoretical understanding of femininity and aging and the practical implications for policy and effective health care treatment. Cultivating an "alternative self" can reduce older women’s suffering and provide the emotional resources to change their inner worlds, even if the outer world stretches beyond their control. Depression affects women twice as often as men. Up to 40 percent of older adults respond poorly to depression treatment, and depression is linked to higher morbidity and mortality rates and cognitive decline. Older adults with depression have 50 percent higher health care costs, yet depression is accurately recognized in less than one half of older adults in primary care. While older men are more likely to die by suicide, older women are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide, and depression is the best predictor of suicide in older adults. Latina and African American women have lower rates of depression treatment compared to non-minority women. From issues of health care access to the stigma of depression, older Latinas and African American women are at an increased risk for untreated depression. This book seeks to address some of the significant gaps in our knowledge of late-life depression in women, especially in ethnic minorities, ranging from detection and efficacy of depression treatment to informal influences (e.g., family) on formal depression care seeking.

This book provides deep insights into concerns related to the well-being in older women across the globe. Written by experts in the field, it explores social roles, health, quality of life/well-being, as well as concerns related to abuse and neglect, impacting the health of older women. It discusses important conditions for the holistic health of older women from different perspectives and provides practical guidelines towards improving the overall status of older women's well-being in society. The chapters analyze the wider implications of older women’s experiences as family members, drivers of economies and members of a diverse population worldwide. Covering a focus which is applicable to countries across continents, whether developed or developing, the book has an overall appeal to academicians, health care, policy makers as well as researchers in areas such as aging, gerontology, social work and psychology.

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.

The number of Americans 65 years of age or older is projected to more than double to over 98 million by 2060, making them 24% of the overall population. Women constitute more than 50% of this group. Most clinicians who provide primary care for older women receive minimal training about their unique health issues and needs during residency however, and few resources exist to guide them regarding these issues in practice. This book provides user-friendly, evidence-based guidance to manage common challenges in healthcare for women during menopause and beyond, filling a huge and growing unmet need for primary care clinicians. Edited by a multidisciplinary team with content expert authors from family medicine, oncology, urogynecology, obstetrics and gynecology, psychology, and more, this text provides clinically relevant information about important conditions impacting the health of older women, including suggested guidelines for management and helpful resources for patient counselling and care. The first half of the book covers general topics such as menopause, bone health, depression and grief, cancer survivorship, and obesity. The second half focuses on issues below the belt that are difficult to talk about, such as incontinence, vulvar pathology, and sexual health after menopause. While there is copious literature about the menopausal transition, few resources for clinicians exist about caring for women beyond the 6th decade. Challenges in Older Women’s Health: A primer for clinicians provides focused, evidence-based information about high-yield topics for a too often neglected group of patients.