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A person's "golden years" can be one of the finest times of his or her life. It's a time to enjoy activities and hobbies, going to church or vacationing, and most importantly, to have time to spend with loved ones. But as we age, we experience the loss of loved ones and the challenges that go with decreased physical and mental capacities.

A changing lifestyle and increased physical and mental limitations can lead to a decline in functioning that can impact negatively on the normal aging process. If someone experiences a departure from his or her usual mood, thoughts or behaviors, he or she may be experiencing an acute mental health problem.

Some symptoms of an acute mental health problem include:

• Sleeping or eating disorders
• Crying spells
• Disregard for personal appearance
• Sad or blank looks
• Thoughts of suicide
• Forgetfulness or confusion
• Consistently wanting to be alone
• Not using medications properly
• Severe agitation and/or uncontrolled anger
• Violent behavior or self-injury
• Severe mood swings
• Hearing voices
• Seeing things that are not there
• Obsessive behavior, like repeating an activity over and over again.

These symptoms are not normal at any age and should be considered an illness in the elderly. Most depression and other emotional illnesses in older people are treatable, especially if dealt with early. When mental health problems occur, specialized professional help is available.

For detailed information about Good Samaritan's Senior Behavioral Health Unit, please choose one of the categories listed above.