Aging
As we age, we face many changes and many sources of stress – we are not as strong as we used to be, illness is more of a problem, children move away from home, people we love die, we may become lonely, and eventually we must give up our jobs and retire. Coping with all these changes is difficult, but it can be done. The keys to coping include your long-term lifestyle, your ability to expect and plan for change, the strength of your relationships with surviving family and friends, and your willingness to stay interested in and involved with life.
This guide is the result of a national study conducted by the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2001 that assessed the mental health needs of seniors and the role home care does, and can, play in meeting those needs. The study concluded that in order to promote seniors’ mental health, there is a need to enhance the capacity of home care organizations to identify and support seniors’ mental health issues both through the type of services provided, and the way in which they are provided.
