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When it comes to treatment, there’s more you have control over than you might think
Sometimes getting a diagnosis can feel like a relief, and other times it can feel crippling. With Author Health, you won’t need to wander around looking for answers anymore. We’re here to give you support and peace of mind so you can feel more like yourself and less defined by your diagnosis.
Conditions and common treatment options for aging adults
There’s more to aging than just getting older. Health conditions can be further complicated, or new concerns can come up. Whether you’re struggling with ongoing depression, coping with a new dementia diagnosis, or grappling with the feeling that something is just off, please know that there is care available to help you feel your best and truly enjoy the next chapters of your life.
Your mind matters. Supporting your brain and mental health makes a world of difference.
If you’ve been struggling with your memory or mental health, resulting in a loss of independence, safety issues, or changes in how you live and feel, it’s important to seek help.
Here are some common conditions that impact seniors and the treatments available:
Mild Cognitive Impairment treatment options
Care for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) should involve a medical workup and treatment for reversible causes (eg., depression, anxiety, insomnia, hypertension, hearing and vision loss, medication side effects, etc.), and a whole health approach including physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, sleep and nutrition optimization, social engagement, and vascular risk control.
While there is no single medicine that reliably reverses MCI, treatments should focus on slowing or reversing cognitive decline while supporting daily independence.
Therapy, care coordination, and more can help you let go of stress and focus on feeling your sharpest.
Anxiety treatment options
Whether you’ve struggled with anxiety throughout your life or are feeling more anxious for the first time, cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation training, mindfulness, and medications such as SSRIs/SNRIs when needed can all be helpful.
If you and your provider feel like medication would be impactful, it’s important to go low and go slow with medications and watch for falls, sedation, and interactions.
If you’ve been experiencing panic or anxiety attacks, paralyzing worry, severe avoidance, inability to function, or suicidal thoughts, please seek help right away.
Depression treatment options
With changes in roles and responsibilities, more frequent loss and mourning, and dealing with changes constantly, it’s no wonder older individuals can struggle with depression, even if they haven’t previously in their lives.
It’s important to know that depression in later life can also look like irritability, fatigue, pain, or poor concentration rather than sadness. Depression left untreated can lead to hopelessness, refusal to eat or drink, self-neglect, or suicidal thoughts.
Psychotherapy, antidepressants, sleep and pain management, social support, and sometimes Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for severe cases can be helpful.
Dementia treatment options
Treatment for dementia should include investigating any underlying causes if reversible, symptom management, caregiver support to prevent burnout safety planning, stress management, memory aids, and structured routines. Sometimes medications like cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine, depending on the type of dementia, can help address symptoms, but do not cure dementia.
Dementia-related hallucinations can be caused by infection, dehydration, constipation, pain, sleep loss, or medication side effects. These can be resolved through treating the health trigger and estimulating the environment through steps such as improving lighting to reduce shadows or turning down TV noise, since poor lighting and confusing visuals can make hallucinations worse. Reassuring the individual by avoiding arguing about what they saw and redirecting them to a calm activity can help. Consider medication or specialist treatment if hallucinations persist or are severe or very distressing.
Due to dementia’s progressive nature and impact on daily function, treatment often focuses on slowing symptoms and supporting independence as long as possible. Planning and preventing new safety problems, wandering, and agitation should also be part of treatment.
Bipolar disorder treatments
Some seniors who have taken bipolar medications for years may experience differences in therapeutic levels because the body can change with age, other medical conditions, and other drugs can interfere, or the dose may no longer be the best fit. While other older adults may have recently received a bipolar diagnosis and are navigating treatment for the first time. In either scenario, with age, bipolar depressive episodes may be more frequent. At the same time, mania can be less obvious, and symptoms of bipolar disorder are often confused with dementia, depression, or medication side effects in older adults.
Treatment typically involves mood-stabilizing medication, therapy, and close medical monitoring due to increased sensitivity to side effects and drug interactions. Establishing a healthy sleep routine, managing triggers, and addressing other medical contributors should also be a part of the overall treatment plan.
When needed, carefully selected antipsychotics that take into account overall health and other prescription medications can be prescribed. Ongoing close monitoring for side effects, kidney/liver issues, and drug interactions should take place to ensure treatment is as helpful and effective as possible.
Substance use treatments
In older adults, substance use can present differently and is often overlooked—symptoms may be mistaken for normal aging, depression, dementia, or side effects of medication.
Treatment often includes individual and group therapy, mutual-help groups such as AA or NA, and support from family and the community. Older adults tend to benefit from longer-term care, and plans should also address medical issues, mental health, and potential medication interactions.
If alcohol or other substances require withdrawal management, older adults may need supervised detox due to increased sensitivity from aging. Medication-assisted treatment can help with certain substance use disorders, but all prescriptions must be carefully reviewed—polypharmacy and reduced kidney or liver function can raise risks. Specialized help that is trained in substance use and aging populations is available.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Total treatment
If you have any concerns, a full medical evaluation can help pinpoint what’s going on and what can be done to turn things around. A diagnosis, while it may seem intimidating, can help match appropriate treatment. Some diagnoses can potentially be reversed when an identified root cause is reversible, such as medication effects, thyroid disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, depression, sleep disorders, or delirium. At the same time, other diagnoses can be managed well so that your independence stays intact.
All conditions and those impacted by them should be supported. In addition to treatment, care plans should minimize stress as much as possible, which may include supportive services such as transportation, financial support, medication supervision, fall prevention, and caregiver education and support.
Common questions about treatments for senior mental health
Here are some common questions about mental health and cognitive care for older adults, but feel free to call us anytime to talk over anything on your mind.
Other Resources
Want more information? Check out our related resources.
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Sundowning is a pattern of increased confusion, agitation, and behavioral changes that happen in the late afternoon and evening hours. It is common in people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. If symptoms or stress worsen, reach out to a doctor or virtual provider like Author Health for support.
How to talk to your loved one about getting their symptoms evaluated
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Anxiety, depression, and sleep changes in older adults
Mental health concerns in older adults are often missed because they do not always look the way people expect. Anxiety, depression, and sleep problems may show up as irritability, physical complaints, confusion, withdrawal, or changes in routine rather than obvious sadness or panic. Recognizing these quieter signs can make a major difference in getting help sooner.
How to start the conversation: Talking to a parent or loved one about mental health or memory changes
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When someone you love starts to change, it can be hard to know what is normal, what needs care, and what’s an emergency.
Some changes can be part of aging. But sudden, unsafe, or serious changes should be checked as soon as possible. If you’re concerned about someone you care for, please call 911 or seek medical care immediately.
Is this just growing old, or is this something more serious? How do I know when someone I love needs more help?
When someone you love starts acting differently, it can be hard to know what to make of it. While some changes can be normal with age, those that are out of character, getting worse, or affecting safety, independence, or relationships deserve a closer look.
You deserve care too
Caregiving takes ongoing emotional, physical, and mental effort. As rewarding as it can be, if you don’t have the support and tools for yourself, the day-to-day demands can quickly impact your health. When left unaddressed, the stress of caregiving can lead to long-term risks for depression, anxiety, sleep issues, chronic health conditions, and relationship strain.
When it comes to treatment, there’s more you have control over than you might think
Sometimes getting a diagnosis can feel like a relief, and other times it can feel crippling. With Author Health, you won’t need to wander around looking for answers anymore. We’re here to give you support and peace of mind so you can feel more like yourself and less defined by your diagnosis.
Maybe it’s just part of getting older. Maybe it’s something more.
Aging can bring changes. Ttaking a little longer to remember a name or needing extra reminders can be expected. But other changes deserve a closer look, especially when they start to affect your daily life, safety, relationships, or independence. If you or someone you love feels more forgetful, withdrawn, anxious, or a little off, Author Health can help you sort through what may be going on and get the care you need to feel like yourself again.
I’ve been feeling different lately. How do I know when to ask for help?
Everyone has an off day here and there, but when changes in someone’s mood, memory, or behavior are new, don’t go away, or are drastically out of character, it starts to impact daily life. If you’ve been feeling like something isn’t quite right, it never hurts to reach out to a loved one, your doctor, or a specialist.
You can feel like yourself again sooner than you might think
Whether you or someone you care for has been feeling or acting differently lately, you don’t have to face it alone. Author Health can help you find out what’s causing the changes you’re experiencing and find solutions so you can feel your best.