Mental Health Resources for Senior Citizens

Don't Overlooked Our Overlooked Elders

April 30, 2024

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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE FOR SENIORS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Who Exactly IS a "Senior Citizen"?

Aging Together (local to VA, but filled with useful information)

National Institute for Aging (public health information; resources)

AARP Mental Health Center (tons of amazing articles)

JOBS

Finding a Job the latest articles on how to find a job

Senior Community Service Employment Program a community service and work-based job training program for older Americans.

31 Good Jobs for Older People (an article)

Indeed.com (a search directory)

FREEBIES

Little Known Freebies

Free Stuff for Seniors

Low Income Relief

Free and "almost free"

DISCOUNTS

For New York Staters Only

The "Biggest List" of Discounts

INFORMATION ABOUT AGE RELATED DILEMMAS

Happy Seniors tips on various topics related to the third age, information necessary to assist with problems and dilemmas related to aging, a forum for opinions questions and answers.

VOLUNTEERS TO HELP YOU

Elder Helpers volunteers to carry groceries, run errands, give rides, entertain (i.e. sing, dance, and make you laugh!), help out with making phone calls, writing letters and reading, help with cleaning and help with cooking.

Friendship Works working to reduce elder isolation by connecting volunteers with older adults for friendship and support.

Love Our Elders fighting loneliness with love, one letter at a time.

VOLUNTEER SO YOU CAN HELP OTHERS

AmeriCorps Senior Program make giving back your second act.

Silver Sneakers a list of organizations and worthy causes.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP ) engages persons of 55 and older in volunteer opportunities to meet community needs.

Volunteer Forever (Volunteer Abroad) a list of ideas and links.

AGING AND INVISIBILITY

Do We Become Invisible as We Age? (article)

Invisible and At-Risk (abstract)

How the Pandemic Made the "Last Acceptable Prejudice" Worse (article)

The Negative Effects of Elderspeak (article)

AGING IN RURAL REGIONS

AG State of Mind (resources for farmers)

The Rural Mental Health Toolkit (resources for North Americans)

Stigma Free Society committed to combatting the stigma of mental health

Original art for "How to Live" by Edwina White

AGING WHILE BLACK

Why Black Aging Matters, Too (an article)

On the intersection of race and aging

Aging and Retiring While Black in the US

AGING WHILE ASIAN AMERICAN / PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI)

Mental Health America Fact Sheet (article about stereotypes and societal issues)

The NAAPIMHA Association to promote the mental health and well being of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities

AAHI Resource Library (resources, publications, reports...)

South Asian Therapists (directory)

Asian Americans with Disabilities Guide (resource guide)

BLOGS / ONLINE MAGAZINES

Next Avenue (the most interesting of all the available magazines I've seen)

Suddenly Senior (articles, jokes, trivia)

The Best Corny Jokes (self explanatory!)

Love to Know (a ton of topics and articles)

Third Age (a premier health and wellness site targeted to women of all ages and their families)

AARP the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age

NEWSLETTERS

Better Health While Aging practical information for aging health and family caregivers

Senior Planet from AARP harnesses technology to enhance the way we age.

OR, Why Not Make Your Own Newsletter?? (here are some ideas & templates)

SOCIAL MEDIA

Groups for Seniors on Facebook

TikTok - See: ("Grandfluencers")

Pinterest - make your own visual boards.

SENIORS WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO "TECH"

Seniors Guide to Computers (people will have to print this out and bring it to their non-computing friends!)

SEX & DATING

The best sites for older adults (top 5 picks for online dating services)

The Joy (and Challenges) of Sex After 70 (podcast episode)

ADVOCATES

Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) advocates for policies and programs that improve aging in our communities as racially and ethnically diverse people; American Indians and Alaska Natives; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people.

Justice in Aging helping to remove barriers of low-income seniors

Administration on Aging provided home and community-based services to millions of older persons

Senior Concerns assists thousands of seniors living on their own or with family members with such issues.

Love of Gray To ignite a movement of Millennials to see and celebrate seniors by engaging them in an exciting and relevant way.

Longterm Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes, and similar adult care homes.

GROWING OLD IN AMERICA

It shouldn't be this hard (article)

Imagining a Better Way to Grow Old (article)

Can't Afford to Grow Old Here (article)

FINANCES

A Financial Guide for Seniors (a guide)

Money for Older Adults tips for money management

Financial Resources to Help Seniors During Times of Inflation (article)

Tax-Aide Program (free taxes)

LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

For Seniors From Senior Planet (a selection of online classes for people 60+)

25 Free Online Courses (from investing to coding, and from Yale to Oxford, learn something new)

Free Online Courses for Seniors (This is a great list, but they don't offer links, which is odd and frustrating. But you can Google them!)

GROWING OLD IN OTHER COUNTRIES

Top 50 Countries with the Largest Percentage of Older Adults

Countries with the Best Mental Health Care in the World

Original art by Edwina White

THE BEST PLACE TO GROW OLD

Three of the best countries in the Longevity Management Scorecard are led by women - Finland, Denmark and New Zealand. As women make up fewer than 10% of world leaders, it may be significant that more age-ready countries are also more gender progressive.

EVER HEARD OF GEROSCIENCE?

What the heck is Geroscience? (article)

Advances in Alzheimers & Related Dementia Diseases (research)

MEDICAL NECESSITIES

Medical Baseline Program also known as Medical Baseline Allowance, is an assistance program for residential customers who depend on power for certain medical needs. Learn more in a short video.

PRODUCTS FOR THOSE LIVING SOLO

Must haves 12 essential products (leading specialists in aging, eldercare and geriatrics choose necessary products for living alone, while also offering the best bang for your buck)

Healthline's Suggested Products to Help the Elderly Living at Home

Elliq an empathetic care companion that empowers happy independent aging at home

BEST SMART-HOME DEVICES for LIVING SOLO

Plug-In Smart Outlet (to set your lights to a regular schedule)

Amazon Echo (voice control your music, ask it questions, set routines)

Smart Doorbell Camera (see a person at your door from head to toe)

Smoke Detector it speaks if it detects smoke or Carbon Monoxide.

IPad for Zoom and larger touch screen apps

Motion Sensor + Hub (this system requires two parts-the sensor and the hub) It alerts you when it detects unexpected motion

THERAPEUTIC TOOLS

Therapy at Home Workbooks (workbooks to untangle unhealthy relationships)

Somni Light (amber light to help you fall asleep faster)

3 Self-Compassion Exercises Pack (PDF)

Therapeutic Worksheets (on Pinterest. Must have an account)

INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION

Seniors Book Club (on Senior Planet)

Brain HQ (raising the bar on brain training)

Wordle a word game (the New York Times)

Spelling Bee (the New York Times)

All of the New York Times' Games

HOW TO SPOT AND AVOID ONLINE SCAMS

FBI scams and safety

Don't Be Fooled (article)

Protecting Seniors from Internet Scams (article)

**My best advice to avoid getting scammed—if you get an email, a text, or a phone call from someone asking for access to any of your social security number, technology or finances, including phone numbers and email addresses, ask for their number, tell them you’ll call them back (if they say no, hang up) then, google the name they gave you, find the phone number for that person and CALL THAT PERSON.

Original art by Edwina White

ANXIETY

What Does Anxiety Feel Like? (symptom checker)

Anxiously Aging

40 Mental Health Resources for Seniors (resource)

Overcoming Worry and Fear (article)

6 Ways to Calm Your Anxiety (list of options)

DEPRESSION

What is Depression? (article)

Fact Sheet (self-explanatory)

Crisis Text Line (self-explanatory)

Older Adults Depression learn the signs and symptoms

Mental Health and Older Adults (a Webinar)

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (tools for wellness and treatment)

Healthy Ideas (a program model)

The Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives aka Pearls (a program) educates older adults about what depression is (and is not) and helps them develop the skills they need for self-sufficiency and more active lives.

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (find a psychiatrist)

7 Things Everyone Should Know About Depression (article)

DEPRESSION SCALES (these are assessments used by clinicians but are also useful for patients to see and weigh their symptoms against)

Geriatric Depression Scale

Nutrition Checklist

Healthy Habit Test

Quality of Life Assessment

Ask Dr. Stall (Stall Senior Medical)

Brief Psychiatric Rating

COGNITIVE DECLINE

Memory Keepers improving the quality of life for people impacted by memory loss

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Geriatric Pain provides quality resources and tools for pain care for older adults)

SERVICES

In Home Care (a list of senior in-home care resources)

For Veterans (Information for Military Personnel & Their Families)

LIVING AT HOME

State Resources Guide every state has an Aging Services Division dedicated to providing frail seniors with home and community-based services, so that they can continue living in their own homes, instead of having to enter a nursing home.

Aging in Place ( guide to determine if aging in place is best for your loved one, and what programs, services and supports are available to help them continue living at home.

PACE The National PACE Association (NPA) advances the efforts of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE®). PACE programs coordinate and provide all needed preventive, primary, acute and long-term care services so older individuals can continue living in the community.

LONELINESS

Conversations to Remember connecting high school and college students with senior citizens to combat the epidemic of loneliness. Putting a smile on the faces of seniors, including those experiencing cognitive decline, creating a bridge between seniors and youth.

A Cure for Disconnection (article) loneliness is a problem of epidemic proportions, affecting millions from all walks of life. But while its roots are complex, remedies may be within reach.

Aging UnLonely empowers partners with programs that use the arts as an accessible and effective public health tool for older adults to create meaningful connections and improve health and well-being.

Therapist Aaron Beck by Edwina White

ELDER ABUSE

Elder Rights Article on safeguards

Adult Protective Services easy access to information on reporting suspected abuse nationwide.

What IS Abuse and Neglect? (summaries and a checklist)

What is Self-Neglect? (a checklist)

What is Financial Abuse and Exploitation? (a checklist)

Elder Justice (Webinars and Podcasts)

DRUG USE

Drug Related Problems in Older Adults from the Merck Manual

Most Prescribed Drugs (an informative list)

The Dangers of Polypharmacy (an article on the dangers of using multiple drugs)

Alcoholics Anonymous

AGEISM

The Health Effects of Ageism (an article)

Ageism in Ads (an article)

PODCASTS FOR SENIORS

Kendal at Oberlin

Better Health While Aging

TRANS SENIORS

Lambda Legal know your rights

GAY SENIORS

Sage Advocacy making aging better for LGBTQ seniors

"Grandfluencers" on Tik Tok (article)

Promoting the Behavioral Health of Older LGBTQ ADULTS (pdf on behavioral health)

This is My Brave empowering individuals to put their names and faces on the true stories of recovery, mental health and addiction.

FOR CAREGIVERS

Aging Care

Health in Aging public education portal, providing older adults and caregivers with up-to-date information on health and aging—as well as access to a network of geriatrics healthcare professionals.

HOUSING

Understanding Longterm Care Insurance

Best Senior Living Communities

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

MedLine Older Adult Care (articles about medical issues related to aging)

Nutrition (everything you needed to know about eating, but were afraid to ask!)

5 Ways Our Nutritional Needs Change as We Age (article)

Meditation (how to begin; benefits of practicing)

Free Guide to Health and Wellness (not Wealth and Hellness, as I first wrote)

Art by Edwina White

SOCIALIZING

Senior Planet Communities (tons of different interest-specific communities)

Making Friends (How to find friends and fight loneliness after 60- in 5 steps!)

Events (curated activities, and other ways to meet like-minded people)

Meet-Up (meet people, make friends, find support)

Engaged a national effort to increase the social engagement of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers

TRANSPORTATION

Go Go Grandparent (service)

Transportation: What Caregivers Need to Know (article)

Mobility Managers (article)

FOR PEOPLE LOCAL TO NYC ONLY

NYC Department of Aging the New York City Department for the Aging’s information and referral contact center for older adults and their families.

Individual and Group Therapy individual and group for people 55+

WEBINARS

Aging Together (free webinars about mental health and aging)

SUICIDE PREVENTION

Resources for Older Adults (resources)

Suicide Resource Prevention Center resources for older adults

FAMILY SUPPORT & FOR CAREGIVERS

Health Library Articles (A library of health resources for caregivers and families)

VIRTUAL REALITY THERAPY

Reminiscence Therapy using Virtual Reality to re-experience meaningful parts of one's life

The Positive Effects of Reminiscence Therapy (an abstract)

ONLINE THERAPY

Blue Moon Senior Counseling tele-health online counseling

7 Cups offers a free 24/7 chat with trained volunteers and peers, as well as paid therapy sessions with professional counselors.

Better Help the “largest online counseling service worldwide.”

Talk Space personalized care for a myriad of mental health issues

Online-Therapy (affordable, top quality, CBT-based treatment)

Geriatric Psychiatry (Directory/Finder)

Geriatric Psychiatry Finder (Directory/Finder)

Zen Care (Therapist Database)

ABOUT THERAPY / TYPES OF THERAPY

Older Adults Respond Better to Therapy Than Working Age Adults (abstract)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emerging evidenced-based approach to the treatment of emotional distress.

TREATMENT & SUPPORT GROUPS

Senior Support Groups different support groups exist for many health conditions, bringing together people who face similar problems to share not only problems but also solutions.

Why a Support Group? If you're facing a major illness or stressful life change, you don't have to go it alone. A support group can help. Find out how to choose the right one.

Behavioral Health Services Locator a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems.

Find the Best Support Group (searchable directory)

GRIEF

The Center for Grief & Loss offers specialized therapy for complicated grief, trauma and life transitions

Death and Dying From the Griever's Perspective (abstract) elderly persons’ experiences of grief over the loss of family members

Here's What Older People Think About Death (an article)

The Grieving Brain (a book by Mary-Frances O' Connor)

PERFORMANCE

5 Monologues for Asian American Actors over 60

A Century–Life and Death of Galia Libertad (a play)

I’d love to hear from you! Why do you think we ignore our elderly population?

If you have resources you'd like to add, please put them in the comments! Thank you!

Until next week I will remain…

Amanda

VITAL INFO:

Nope, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. I am simply a person who struggled with undiagnosed mental health issues for over two decades and spent 23 years in therapy learning how to live. Now, I'm sharing the greatest hits of what I learned to spare others from needless suffering.

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