Mental Health Support in Assisted Living Facilities

Category: Assisted Living | Alzheimer's

Mental health does not discriminate and often impacts some of the most vulnerable people in our society, the elderly included. If your loved one is experiencing a mental health struggle while living in an assisted living facility, they may benefit from the care of a licensed mental health counselor.

A Mental Health Specialist Smiling And Holding Hands With An Elderly Patient At An Assisted Living Facility.

Even if your loved one doesn’t have a diagnosed mental health condition, seeking mental health support can alleviate some of the complex issues that residents in an assisted living facility may experience regularly. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the benefits of elderly mental health support in an assisted living facility and what that means for you as a family member or caretaker.

Contact Haven Health to learn more.

What Types of Mental Health Services Are Typically Available in Assisted Living Facilities?

Assisted living facilities are committed to providing residents with comprehensive and holistic care options. Because of this, many facilities offer a range of mental health services. Common services you can expect your loved one to have access to include the following:

  • Counseling and therapy: Residents working with a licensed counselor or therapist can establish healthy habits that positively impact their overall lives. Residents will work with counselors in either a group or individual setting and can navigate complex mental health struggles, including anxiety, stress, depression, and grief.
  • Medication management: Some residents who have a diagnosed mental health condition may need the support of medication. Mental health professionals can prescribe medications that will then be incorporated into a resident medication regimen.
  • Regular assessments: Residents will also have the opportunity to undergo regular mental health assessments that will ensure that they are supported through any mental health struggles they may be experiencing. This is also a good opportunity for residents to touch base with counselors and speak about any concerns or issues that are going on in their lives.

How Do Assisted Living Facilities Support Residents With Dementia?

Mental health support is critical to elderly individuals, including those experiencing life-altering diseases like dementia. Dementia patients who work with a mental health counselor will have access to robust services that can help them manage and navigate their lives despite this horrific disease. Care is often extended to family members and loved ones as well.

Related: Six Mental Health Tips for Seniors

How Can Family Members Support Their Loved Ones’ Mental Health in Assisted Living Settings?

There’s a lot that family members can do to help the overall mental health of their loved one in an assisted living facility. While regular meetings with counselors and therapists and medication management can help establish a routine and a sense of structure for your loved one, the care and company provided by family and friends are unmatched.

Some simple things you can do to support your loved one are:

  • Regular visits
  • Keeping open lines of communication
  • Being involved in their overall care planning

What Are the Benefits of Mental Health Support Programs in Assisted Living Facilities?

Senior mental health services in an assisted living facility take on many forms. These services include physical activities, structured group activities, and clear-cut mental health support groups.

Whatever the support service your loved one receives, there are many benefits to elderly residents participating in these activities. Some benefits of engaging in a mental health support program include:

  • Improved quality of life from programs tailored to meet specific mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, grief, loneliness, and others
  • Reduced symptoms of any existing mental health struggles
  • Residents will have an opportunity to engage with other residents who are navigating similar strugglers
  • An overall acceptance and recognition that mental health struggles are real, but there are tools individuals can tap into to help alleviate those symptoms

How Do Assisted Living Facilities Create a Supportive Environment for Mental Health?

Assisted living mental health support programs can create an enriching environment where residents feel a sense of belonging. They are supported by trained medical professionals and other residents who are experiencing similar struggles, which can keep residents from feeling isolated or alone.

What Are the Challenges in Providing Mental Health Support in Assisted Living Facilities?

While most short- and long-term care facilities provide robust support in terms of mental health support, it’s not without its challenges.

Many assisted living facilities face similar challenges when providing comprehensive care to the residents. These challenges include:

  • Limited staffing and limited access to trained professionals who can help residents, especially in highly populated facilities.
  • Residents in assisted living facilities come from all walks of life, and as such, they bring a wide range of mental health needs to the table. These needs are often complex and diverse. As such, it can be difficult for a single mental health professional to provide the care needed. This is where the support of a team of professionals is invaluable.
  • Funding and access to resources.

How Do Assisted Living Facilities Collaborate With External Mental Health Professionals?

Like many health professionals in an assisted living facility, mental health professionals collaborate with physicians, nurses, caregivers, and other support staff to ensure the needs of residents are met. This collaboration can take on many forms through group therapy or sessions with family members and other loved ones.

Related: Tips for Maintaining Independence in Assisted Living

What Is the Impact of Mental Health Support for Residents in Assisted Living?

With the right support and care, residents of assisted living facilities, including those in skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes, can benefit immensely from the care and support provided by a mental health team or professional.

Residents report improved emotional well-being because they have someone to talk to about their concerns, struggles, and fears.

Residents also have an improved quality of life because they’ll have the mental clarity to reflect on their lives and focus on life aspects that bring them the most joy. Mental health or life struggles they’re facing are also easier to manage because they’ll have the tools necessary to work through those issues.

Elderly mental health care in Arizona assisted living facilities is critical not just for the residents but for their family members as well. Loved ones can count on the support a facility provides, allowing them to have peace of mind their loved one is taken care of even during difficult mental health struggles.

Explore quality care in assisted living when you contact Haven Health. 

Sources:

Depression and Older Adults. (2024).

Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions. (2024).

Mental health of older adults. (2024).