Elderly mental health requires increased funding and specialized care

Experts and legislators are calling for increased attention and funding to address the mental health of the elderly. During a forum titled ‘Más allá de los años: Cuidando la Salud Mental del Adulto Mayor’, Deputy Monica Sandoval emphasized that mental health care requires dedicated public policies and specialized clinics rather than just monetary transfers through social programs.

Sandoval highlighted the issue of social ‘invisibilization,’ where older adults are marginalized by institutions and the general population. She noted that depression, anxiety, and eating disorders are significant concerns that go beyond physical health.

Medical specialists have warned that untreated depression in older adults can exacerbate other conditions, such as memory loss and dementia. Factors like loneliness, abandonment, and the loss of a partner are major contributors to emotional decline, which can lead to apathy and ‘depressive pseudodementia.’ Experts urge families and society to recognize mental health as a fundamental component of healthy aging.