Population at Risk

Older Persons -
a population at risk

Text Box: The population aged 60 and older is this country's fastest growing age group. It is projected that it will represent 25 percent by the year 2020. Such a rapid growth results in ever increasing demand for mental health services because it is at such high risk of physical and mental health.
·       10 to 28 percent of this population have mental health problems that warrant professional intervention.
·        10-15 percent of older persons have clinically significant depression 2-3 percent are diagnosed with Major Affective Disorder or Bipolar Depression.
·       Suicide rates among the elderly are even higher than in the younger age group. Suicide occurs at the rate of 18.1 per 100,000 for persons age 65 to 74, with 26.1 for ages 75 to 84 and 22.5 for ages 85 and above. (Versus 13.6 per 100,000 persons 15 to 24.)
·        Existence of major psychological illness in the weeks before suicide highlights the necessity for active mental health outreach and case finding services for the elderly.
·        Severe senile dementia affects approximately 5 percent of the population 65 and over. By age 80, this rate increases to between 15 to 20 percent.
·        Up to one half persons with dementia are affected by coexisting depression or psychosis.
·        The prevalence of mental disorders and behavioral disturbances in elderly nursing home residents is estimated to be more than 75 percent.

These facts clearly identify the elderly as a population that requires special attention to be paid to its mental health needs!

E-mail the Webmaster with comments and questions about this site Date Last Updated: 02/20/2005