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Search Results for: self care

7 Healthy Habits for Mental Health

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mental health

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. 7 Habits for Mental Health Our daily habits may not seem to have a drastic impact on our mental health and well-being, but they definitely do. The following are 7 healthy habits that can enhance well-being and mental health:  Exercise Yes, you could have guessed that this would make the list.  We know that exercise is recommended for improving our physical health but has also been researched and observed to have positive benefits on mental health. It increases endorphins in our bodies, which help us effectively cope with stress and pain. Further, when we exercise, studies show that this can in turn positively impact our sleep cycles, enhancing our quality of sleep (Korb, 2015).  Exercise can look different for each of us depending on our ability status and the time we are allotted with our various responsibilities, but finding ways to integrate exercise into our schedules …

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National Suicide Prevention Month 2023

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mental health

By Ashley Barnes What is National Suicide Prevention Month? National Suicide Prevention Month spans the entirety of September with the goal of uniting mental health professionals, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members to promote suicide prevention awareness; this is achieved through educating others with the use of resources, research, and powerful stories. September also hosts National Suicide Prevention Week from September 4th through September 10th as well as World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. Suicide Prevention. It is important to recognize warning signs of suicide as well as understand it’s prevalence in order to work towards suicide prevention. Suicide describes the act of ending one’s own life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States (CDC, 2021). Research has found that around 46% of people who die by suicide have a known mental health condition …

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How to Talk to Aging Parents About Memory Loss

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Mark Hrymoc, M.D.
how to talk to aging parents about memory loss

Talking to aging parents about memory loss requires empathy and sensitivity. Choose a comfortable setting, use clear and gentle language, and express concern without alarm. Offering support, discussing professional evaluation, and emphasizing that memory issues might be treatable can make the conversation more constructive and less intimidating. Cognitive decline, including memory loss, affects many older adults. Some symptoms are a natural part of aging, while others signal a more serious condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11.1% of adults over 65 self-report that they have been experiencing a worsening of confusion and memory problems within the last twelve months.  If you are a child of an aging parent with cognitive decline, you have likely noticed that their memory is not what it once was. You may need to talk to them about their memory loss but aren’t sure what to say or how to say it. …

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5 Benefits of Geriatric Home Visits

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mental health

By Ashley Barnes, M.S. Geriatric Healthcare Geriatric healthcare is the attentive medical care given to those over the age of 65 who are also referred to as seniors. Many individuals don’t seek geriatric healthcare until well into their 70s, 80s, or even 90s. A subspecialty in geriatric healthcare is geriatric psychiatry, as geriatric mental healthcare is a crucial aspect of geriatric healthcare in general. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) describes geriatric psychiatry as addressing the “biological and psychological aspects of normal aging, the psychiatric effect of acute and chronic physical illness, and the biological and psychosocial aspects of the pathology of primary psychiatric disturbances of older age” (APA, 2021).  Main focal points in geriatric psychiatry pertain to the “prevention, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in the elderly and improvement of psychiatric care for healthy and ill elderly patients” (APA, 2021). Some of the most common psychiatric …

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9 Early Signs of Dementia in Older Adults

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Mark Hrymoc, M.D.
woman evaluating signs of dementia in older adults

The signs of dementia in older adults can include memory loss, difficulty with planning or problem-solving, confusion with time or place, and changes in mood or personality. These symptoms may initially appear subtle but gradually worsen, significantly affecting daily life and demanding medical attention for proper diagnosis and care. The National Institute on Aging reports that millions have Dementia, but it is not a normal part of aging. Dementia is a disease that affects cognitive abilities. In the mildest stage of Dementia, often in the beginning stages, specific symptoms may appear. In this article, you will learn what dementia is and discover the signs of dementia in older adults. If you or someone you know exhibits one or more symptoms, contact a professional to learn how Neurocognitive treatment can help slow the progression and maintain quality of life. What is Dementia? Dementia is a general term that describes a group …

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