By Julie Randolph, Care Coordinator
2020 will surely go down in the record books as a
challenging year filled with the unexpected! All of us have experienced
the impact on our mental health.
Mental health understanding the brain vector
Has anxiety or depression affected your mood or activities in the last week? Have you tried exercise, medication, counseling, support groups, and/or social activities to combat these issues? Call your physician for medical advice, call Senior Services for a counseling referral, or read the Prime Times for opportunities to build these positive reinforcements into your life.
Has a recent loss affected your sleep, appetite, or substance use? Have you experienced increased agitation or isolation? Consider these to be invitations to reach out to a friend, family member, or seek counseling. Mourning can last for a season and other times it has permanent impact; either way, you can set a new and positive course forward.
Do you experience paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions? Causes can range from untreated hearing loss, chemical reaction to medications, metabolic imbalance, or an untreated mental illness. Talk with your physician and get a referral to a specialist.
Do you ever need a reminder of the current date, time of day, or place? Would you benefit from a daily exercise in cognitive orientation? Consider obtaining a calendar journal from a local bookstore, or utilizing on-line supports through sites such as birdsonglife.com or lumosity.com.
Has forgetfulness caused near mishaps while cooking or driving? Consider scheduling a memory screening with your physician or by calling Amy Sheridan from our Memory Support Services at 989-633-3764.
Do you ever find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings and are uncertain of how you arrived there? Request an examination with your physician, as soon as possible, to determine the cause. Consider obtaining a GPS device and establishing a regular, daily check in time with a friend or family member.
Lastly, neglect or abuse of any level of severity should be addressed. If you fear for your safety or have been injured, please call 911 or the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services abuse & neglect line at 1-855-444-3911. Scams are also a form of abuse, are rampant, and often target the aging population. Do not give any personal information to someone you do not know. Always get a second opinion from a trustworthy source. Telltale signs of a scam are: a sense of urgency conveyed; statements that you will lose a one-time opportunity if you do not cooperate; threats that you will suffer harm, be in violation of laws, or face penalties if you do not participate. If pressured to give out personal identification numbers or history, HANG UP and report immediately to your local police department.
“Hope is always accompanied by the imagination, the will to see what our physical environment seems to deem impossible.” – Jericho Brown
