Mental Health and Dementia Care: A Critical Reflection Essay

This critical reflection essay explores the multifaceted aspects of mental health, well-being, and dementia care in adults. The essay begins by highlighting the challenges in identifying and addressing declining mental health in older adults, emphasizing the importance of caregiver vigilance and early medical intervention. It discusses the symptoms of mental illness, including mood swings, substance abuse, and changes in behavior, as well as the specific signs of dementia, such as memory loss and impaired judgment. The essay reflects on the complexities of treating mental illness, including the stigma associated with it, and the need for individualized treatment plans. It emphasizes the combined effort of caregivers, mental health specialists, and healthcare professionals in supporting patients. The essay also examines the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer's, discussing the need for efficient care and early detection. The author reflects on the need for mental illness measurement indicators and the importance of primary care settings in identifying problems initially. The essay concludes by highlighting the significance of early intervention and the crucial role of collaboration between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in improving mental health outcomes for adults, especially those over 55 with other health conditions.

Mental Health - well being and dementia care/Critical reflection essay 1
Mental Health - well being and dementia care/Critical reflection essay
Student's Name:
Instructor's Name:
Date:

Mental Health - well being and dementia care/Critical reflection essay 2
Introduction:
As we age, the efficiency of our body systems slows down. Our mental health too, suffers in
a way. However, while the problems of our body systems can be deducted through various
tests and technologically advanced processes, the degrading mental health is slow to deduct,
and sometimes too late to recover completely. Some of the old age problems, such as
dementia, loss of clarity in thinking processes or degrading memory power are only ignored
with a notion that they are the signs of advancing years. This is where one might go wrong in
identifying the clear distress signals that the people of advanced years (or even in middle age)
tend to communicate. Knowledge and proper vigilance by the care givers, can alter this trend,
and get them under proper medical supervision. (Stevenson, 2013).
This work is a reflection of my own experience in the field of pathophysiology of mental
health in adults and how or where the present day techniques can be applied to enhance my
work experience.
Dementia Care Treatments in Adults:
Often than not, adults approach us with various other complaints, such as not getting enough
sleep or palpitations due to anxiety and weight issues. While not every case is a sure sign of
mental illness, many of these are, sadly, due to deteriorating mental health.
Some of the signs that we look for in patients include:
 Sudden disturbance in sleeping pattern
 Mood swings
 Substance abuse (related to psychological problems)
 Depression
 Changes in normal behaviour

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Most of these symptoms are not immediately deducted, although they have started long
before a person comes for medical intervention. However, in several cases, even after feeling
helpless and anxious, the patients do not approach for medical help due to the stigma attached
to mental illness. (Conner, 2010).
In case of dementia, however, the signs are slow and sometimes related to diseases like
stroke.
Some of the symptoms include:
a. Loss of memory (here again, the intensity may differ)
b. Language and communication
c. Problem to focus or pay attention
d. Perception of vision
e. Judgement and reasoning (Dementia- Signs, symptoms and Diagnosis)
Hence, in cases where they approach the experts for treatment, it is essential to have a one-
on- one interview with the patient to review the aspects of their condition. Mental illness
cannot be chunked to one particular box, with fixed symptoms. Each and every patient
(subject) differs in their predicament, and each has their own complications. It is, therefore
the responsibility of the experts, psychologists and other medical health professionals get to
the root cause of the problem before dealing with sufficient solution.
Many a times, in our practise, it becomes extremely difficult to get the person to agree to the
consultation with an expert, since the term ‘mental illness’ is still a taboo in various
communities. The problem becomes further complex, when children (dependents) are
smaller, and do not have means to fend for them. According to a study, almost 21-23% of
children live with at least one parent who suffers from mental illness in Australia. (Goodyear,

Mental Health - well being and dementia care/Critical reflection essay 4
2015). With such parental concerns, and also the stigma, people hesitate to approach, or
outright avoid issues concerning their mental health, leading to aggravations, and dire
situations, wherein experts need to keep them under observation for a long time.
As an observer in the field of mental health, I have often noted that those patients, who come
to us voluntarily, or through the help of family, have a better way of overcoming their
problems. It is also often a combined effort of the primary caregiver (mostly a loved one),
mental health specialist and health care professionals to bring the patients back to their happy
self. (Stevenson, 2013).
The major issue with older adults that one faces is with dementia. Alzemer’s disease,
dementia, are problems which are commonly noted in older adults, and require a lot more
care, and for a longer time frame. Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease, caused by the
death of brain cells (MacGill, 2017). Since dementia can be categorized into many forms,
depending upon their severity and causes, the first and foremost one does is to identify the
type. Treatment of dementia again is a challenge, since it is not only the patients (usually
older adults at the age of 60 and above), but also their loved ones who might have to face the
trauma of dealing with the illness.
Reflections on Mental Health in Adults:
Research suggests that mental health is often associated with other diseases in older adults,
such as heart conditions, stroke and so on, which curtails them from their favourite activities.
This leads to depression, and behavioural changes in them, leading to mental health
problems. Every year, more and more people (of age group 55 and above) come with such
problems, which makes it difficult for the primary care givers to deal with them at home.
Dementia itself claims one tenth of people above the age of 65 years. (McGill, 2017). While
drugs like Oestrogen, folate and vitamin B12 are said to be advantageous in decreasing the

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cell degradation, (and sometimes in reviving the cells), other methods such as efficient care
works out to be more efficient. (Australia A)
According to a study of frequency and quality of dementia care in Australian adults, it is seen
that only 39% came voluntarily to help, while 26% were treated according to the evidences
seen by the professionals. While the other 16% received very less treatment, the rest 19%
went undetected. (Harris et.al., 2015). This clearly shows the reluctance in adults to approach
health care facilities for treatment or that they simply ignore and (or) unaware of their mental
health conditions.
Where do we need to make the change? Do we require a mental illness measurement
indicator in hospitals to trap problems at its initial level? The study in the US suggests that
the primary care settings can make a significant effort in identifying problems initially and
then refer it to the relevant departments for further treatment. (Goodrich et. al, 2014).
However, here too, one might encounter resistance in the patients, who might not want to
take further help, from a mental health care professional.
Therein lies the problem of social stigma attached to mental illness and dementia. Mental
health is such that unless the patient (adult) themselves can come forward to seek help or let
their loved ones to interfere on their behalf, (in case of dementia), it is extremely difficult to
start treatment. Cooperating with the professionals is one of the primary and significant
aspects of mental health care, and without it, the whole endeavour may not be successful.
Summary:
Increasing cases of mental health are a serious concern. What with today’s stress filled
lifestyle and so little time to care for the elders, many of the patients (in their older age) are
left to fend for themselves, leading to dementia. Only a combined attempt of the primary care

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givers, the medical professional who is treating them for other illness and also the family
members can make a change in the treatment.
Since mental illness such as dementia and Alzheimer's is not a sudden occurrence, but
something that will develop slowly, an earlier mediation can help the patients recover faster.
Adults over the age of 55 especially, and with illness such as heart problems or arthritis and
with curtailed movements need to be more carefully watched for symptoms of mental illness.
Although there is no sure way to determine the mental health of a person, and dementia is
slow to recognise, a consulting physician or a primary care giver (who has been seeing a
person for a longer time) can identify the symptoms and bring it to the notice of an expert to
make a change in their lives.

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References:
Stevenson, S. 2013. 10 Symptoms of Mental Illness in the Elderly. Availalble at
http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-10-7-mental-illness-in-the-elderly/ [Accessed on
21st Aug 2017]
Conner, K. O., Copeland, V. C., Grote, N. K., Koeske, G., Rosen, D., Reynolds, C. F., &
Brown, C. 2010. Mental Health Treatment Seeking Among Older Adults with Depression:
The Impact of Stigma and Race. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 531-543.
Parekh, Rana 2015. Warning Signs of Mental Illness. American Psychiatric Association.
Available at https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/warning-signs-of-mental-illness
[Accessed on 21st Aug 2017]
Goodrich, D. E., Kilbourne, A. M., Nord, K. M., & Bauer, M. S. 2013. Mental Health
Collaborative Care and Its Role in Primary Care Settings. Curr Psychiatry Rep., vol. 15, no.
8, pp. 383
Health Direct 2016. Nine signs of mental health issues. Available at
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/signs-mental-health-issue [Accessed on 21st Aug 2017]
Harris, M. G., Hobbs, M. J., Burgess, P. M., Pirkis, J. E., Diminic, S., Siskind, D. J., …
Whiteford, H. A. 2015. Frequency and quality of mental health treatment for affective and
anxiety disorders among Australian adults. Med J Aust, vol. 202, no. 4, pp. 185-189.
Goodyear, M., Hill, T.-L., Allchin, B., & McCormick, F. (2015). Standards of practice for the
adult mental health workforce: Meeting the needs of families where a parent has a mental
illness. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. Available at
http://tandemcarers.org.au/images/Goodyear_2015.pdf [Accessed on 21st Aug 2017]

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National Institute of Mental Health 2016. Older Adults and Mental Health. Available at
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/older-adults-and-mental-health/index.shtml
[Accessed on 21st Aug 2017]
MacGill, M. 2017. Dementia: Symptoms, treatments, and causes. Available at
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214.php [Accessed on 21st Aug 2017]
Australia, A. 2014. Use of other therapeutic treatments. Available at
https://www.fightdementia.org.au/national/about-dementia/how-is-dementia-treated/use-of-
other-therapeutic-treatments [Accessed on 21st Aug 2017]
Alzheimer's Association 2017. Dementia - Signs, Symptoms & Diagnosis. Available at
http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp [Accessed on 21st Aug 2017]