Running Head: STATE OF AGING AND HEALTH IN AMERICA
State of Aging and Health in America
Week 4 Discussion
Lindsay Ann Abrigo
March 15, 2014
MPH 584 – Community Health
Dr. Kimberly Brodie
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STATE OF AGING AND HEALTH IN AMERICA
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Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing
(CDC, 2013). With the world’s population aging rapidly, the proportion of elderly adults
is expected to “increase from 605 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60” (WHO,
2013). By 2050, it is anticipated that Americans aged 65 or older will number nearly 89
million people, or more than double the number of older adults in the United States in
2010 (CDC, 2013). The most significant issue for elder Americans is receiving the
necessary social and emotional support (health promotion/interventions), which can
greatly influence an individual’s mental and physical health. Approximately 90% of
adults aged 50 or older indicated that they are receiving adequate amounts of support
(CDC, 2008). However, adults aged 65 or older were more likely than adults age 50–64
to report that they “rarely” or “never” received the social and emotional support they
needed (CDC, 2008). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that social
support serves major support functions, including emotional support (sharing problems or
venting emotions), informational support (advice and guidance), and instrumental support
(providing rides or assisting with housekeeping) (2008; 2013). In addition, receiving
adequate social and emotional support is essential to the wellbeing of elder Americans
and is “associated with reduced risk of mental illness, physical illness, and mortality”
(CDC, 2013).
Mental health is essential to overall health and wellbeing (CDC, 2008) and must
be recognized and treated with the same urgency as physical health among the elderly
population. As such, mental health of elderly Americans has been identified as a priority
by the Healthy People 2010 objective, the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, and
the 1999 Surgeon General’s report on mental health (CDC, 2008). There are multiple
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factors, including biological, psychological, and social factors, which can influence an
individual’s mental health. Mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, have
the potential to adversely impact physical health and one’s ability to function, especially
in older adulthood (APA, 2014). The American Psychological Association cites an
estimate by the Administration on Aging that approximately 20% of adults aged 55 and
over suffer from a mental disorder, the most common being anxiety disorders, sever
cognitive impairment, and mood disorders (2014). Researchers estimate that the majority
of older adults with a mental disorder do not receive the services they need (APA, 2014).
Mental health problems both negatively affect and be affected by physical health
problems, both of which are often under-identified by healthcare professionals and older
people themselves (WHO, 2013).
Mental health of older adults can be improved through promoting active and
healthy aging. Mental health-specific health promotion for the older adults involves
creating living conditions and environments that support wellbeing and allow people to
lead healthy and integrated lifestyles (WHO, 2013). Promoting mental health depends
largely on strategies that ensure the elderly have the necessary resources to meet their
basic needs. These resources include, but are not limited to:
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Providing security and freedom

Adequate housing through supportive housing policy

Social support for elderly populations and their caregivers

Health and social programs targeted at vulnerable groups such as those who
live alone, rural populations or who suffer from a chronic or relapsing mental
or physical illness
STATE OF AGING AND HEALTH IN AMERICA
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Violence or older adults maltreatment prevention programs

Community development programs (WHO, 2013).
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In addition, the National Alliance on Mental Illness asserts that the types of services
available for older adults with mental health issues vary depending on how sever the need
is for each individual (2001). Additional services include individual/group counseling,
outpatient counseling, in-home counseling, community mental health centers, mental
health education, support groups, etc.
It is essential for the aforementioned services to be accessible and available to the
elderly population in order to provide each individual with the necessary care and support
to promote and maintain mental health. Mental health affects and is affected by physical
health. As such, it is my belief that if mental health begins to diminish, an individual is
unable to care for oneself to the fullest capacity and to ensure that their overall health and
wellbeing is maintained. It is critical to stress that there are effective mental health
interventions available for this population. Quality mental health care and adequate
support can positively impact the lives of older adults by implementing prevention, early
assessment/diagnostic, intervention, and treatment strategies that are appropriate to an
elderly individuals’ unique needs.
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References
American Psychological Association, (2014). Mental and behavioral health and older
Americans. Retrieved from website:
https://www.apa.org/about/gr/issues/aging/mental-health.aspx
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Association of Chronic Disease
Directors, (2008). The state of mental health and aging in America issue brief 1:
What do the data tell us? Retrieved from website:
http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/mental_health.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. (2013). Healthy
aging data portfolio - indicator summary: Social and emotional support.
Retrieved from website:
http://nccd.cdc.gov/DPH_Aging/Indicator/IndicatorSummary.aspx?indId=35&Cat
Id=7
National Alliance on Mental Illness, (2001). Mental health, mental illness, healthy aging:
A NH guide for older adults and caregivers. Retrieved from website:
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Home4/Home_Page_Spotlights/Spo
tlight_1/Guidebook.pdf
World Health Organization, (2013). Mental health and older adults. Retrieved from
website: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs381/en/