According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15% of adults 60+ suffer from a mental disorder and an astounding 1/3 of them are under-diagnosed or not diagnosed at all. Not surprisingly, the most common mental health issue among seniors is dementia but also prevalent are depression, anxiety disorder, OCD (including hoarding), phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
According to psychologist Robert Myers, PhD. of Brand New Day, a Medicare approved health plan, mental illness in seniors is often misdiagnosed or mistaken for other chronic health conditions.
“As people grow older, they find themselves unable to do the things they used to and compounding that is they oftentimes start losing contact with friends and family. These circumstances often lead to depression and other mental health disorders,” he said. “Making matters worse is that seniors tend to downplay their symptoms so making a diagnosis is even more difficult.”
Myers says that at Brand New Day, caregivers are trained to watch out for the signs of early mental illness:

· Memory loss — misplacing belongings, repeatedly asking for the same information or forgetting important dates
· Personal Hygiene — noticeable and unpleasant change in appearance, not bathing, not applying makeup anymore, etc.
· Withdrawing socially — avoiding social activities and losing interest in things that once excited them
· Hopelessness — outward feelings of sadness and despair
· Low Energy — noticeable listlessness and low energy throughout the day
· Disinterest — demonstrating little or no interest in anything

“The good news is that mental health issues are just as treatable among seniors as in the general population. At Brand New Day we take a comprehensive approach to care that includes medication, therapy and/or socialization,” said Myers.
For those with dementia, Brand New Day offers sufferers and their caregivers support beyond traditional treatment to include a health coach, housing placement, memory support programs and a host of other services through its Bridges Program.
For those diagnosed with mental health issues like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar, major depression and paranoid disorder, Brand New Day offers its Harmony Program. Here, members benefit from a team approach to care that may involve their medical doctor, psychiatrist, behavioral health trained life coach and a nurse.
Brand New Day is the Medicare product name of Universal Care, Inc., a privately held California Knox-Keene Healthcare Service Plan licensed by the California Department of Managed Health Care and contracted with the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services as a Medicare Advantage contractor.
Established in 1983, Universal Care, Inc. is owned and operated by an experienced group of managed care executives and physicians. For more information, visit BNDHMO.com or call (866-) 255-4795