Why Do Elderly People Commit Suicide

“Most suicide attempts do not result in death. Many of these attempts are done in a way that makes rescue possible. These attempts are often a cry for help” (DeMaso, 2015, para. 3).

Aging is very complex and highly individualized process which begins at conception and end with death. Variables such as physical or cognitive impairments, socioeconomic aspect, cultural values, and beliefs make an aging process unique to each individual. I interviewed an elderly woman using a set of guided questionnaires on the topic to further explore her aging experience. For the purpose of this assignment, I will refer to the client interviewed as a D.L., a changed name for a reason of privacy and confidentiality. During the interview, we explored a D.L. strategy to stay healthy, significant accomplishments of her life, hobbies and activities, retirement, and finally the goals for the future.

Gerontology as a field of scientific study can be traced back to the late 1800s; a time when research primarily focused on the negative attributes of aging, such as health decline. It wasn 't until the introduction of social gerontology in 1983 that researchers began to more rigorously study the psychological and social aspects of aging. In recognizing that “successful aging depends not just on the prevention of disease and disability, but also on the attainment of peak physical and psychological functioning,” (Quadagno,

Suicide was seen as a just way to die if one was faced with unendurable suffering - be it physical or emotional”. Throughout time, suicide has been viewed and dealt with in countless ways. Recently in America, the problem has grown increasingly. In the past decade, suicide rates have been on the incline; especially among men. According to the New York Times (2013), “From 1999 to 2010, the suicide rate among Americans ages 35 to 64 rose by nearly 30 percent… The suicide rate for middle-aged men was 27.3 deaths per 100,000, while for women it was 8.1 deaths per 100,000”. A 30 percent increase with an average of 19 more male suicides than female suicides is certainly an issue for both genders, and an epidemic for men. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (n.d.), found that in 2010, 38,364 suicides were reported, with 78.9% being men. The economic recession, unemployment, and various other factors are speculated to be responsible for this incline in male suicide. As of 2010, an estimated 30,308 men ended their own lives, and it seems as if there is a great risk of that number increasing each year.

Vulnerable adults may subconsciously signal that all is not well by use of attention-seeking behaviour. Talking about suicide and having suicidal thoughts can also reveal feelings of helplessness and being trapped with no way out. It important to look for patterns of behavioural change rather than focus on one indecent. For example, does a resident’s behaviour become more withdrawn when a particular member of staff is on duty?

Over the past decade suicide rates have been either stagnant or have been decreasing over all of the demographics of people. One demographic of people's suicide rate, on the other hand, has risen at a substantial rate. Scientists and researchers have just started studying this trend and have yet to draw one specific reason on why middle aged white males suicide rates are climbing. The suicide rate for this demographic of people has just surpassed the deaths by automobile accidents. This recent epidemic has got many researchers and scientists asking the question of “why?”.

The Veterans’ Health Administration has been working on a multitude of levels to try and prevent suicides. There are three main points of focus in regards to veterans for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The first one is keeping an eye on veterans with a higher risk than others, so that they can step in and help prevent suicide. Stepping in, being the second main point the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is attempting to tackle. The third and final point of focus, is providing programs that help veterans deal with different difficult situations that they may encounter. The biggest program that the Veterans’ Health Administration currently has is the crisis line. After six years this program is still continuing to be a major component in preventing veteran suicides. To add to the changing population of veterans that might use the line they have added texting as well as web chat options not only to make it easier to use, but also make it user friendly. I think that this was a great way to improve the crisis line. Sometimes, especially with the

Because I work in an hospital that cares for populations at great risk for substance abuse and untreated mental issues and disorders, I get to see patients that have, or at some time will try to commit suicide, I would like to take this opportunity to learn how to properly assess the community, to help those in need, and to educate their families and friends to look for, and recognize signs that can prevent suicides, toward this end, it is important that I have the necessary knowledge to assimilate the information in this study, in a manner that will provide greater benefit not only to my

Aging is a universal phenomenon and humans are no exception. Gerontology deals with the psychological, social and biological aspects of aging process. A recent study shows that people aged 85 years and older are expected to augment from 5.3 million people to 21 million as the world reach 2050. In today’s world Gerontology has an enormous role to play so that the senior citizens could be analyzed and their needs may be addressed with compassion and empathy.

Later adulthood is the time in life when changes in marriage, families, and peer relationships are affected the most by the loss of someone close to that person. “Most people 70 years of age or older are widowed, divorced, or single” (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010, p.619). Losing a spouse or close friend can create a sense of loneliness, which causes depression, anxiety and the emptiness feeling can become overwhelming. Depression also leads to psychological effects that will deteriorate a person’s health causing the chance for a terminal disease to become much higher. The weaker appearance of older adults causes family and remaining peers to step up in the role of making sure the person’s wellbeing is being met. (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010). Living accommodations and healthcare needs

All participants in this study will be drawn from older adult populations, defined as individuals above the age of 59. Participants will be drawn from two pools. The first participant pool will be drawn from a list of older adults that have agreed to participate in psychology research. This pool largely consists of older adults located in Greenville, SC, with significant amounts of the population being drawn from the Woodlands, an older adult community, and OLLI, a continuing education program for older adults. This pool will be acquired with the consent of Dr. Michelle Horhota. The second participant pool will be drawn from Otterbein, another older adult community located in Lebanon, OH. Otterbein is a similar

Aging is described as a sequential, irreversible, progressive, and non-pathological process of maturation in an organism and that translates to a gradual decline in the ability to perform activities optimally. Aging is an individual process that can be a period of stress for individuals especially following their retirement (Hiller & Barrow, 2015). The current study sought to understand the process and experience of aging from the perspective of elderly individuals. In discussing matters of aging and retirement, many assume that women are always eager to retire, and adjust well, as compared to their male counterparts (Bauger & Bongaardt, 2016). Many people assume that since women are generally made as homemakers, they are willing and happy to retire while men, whose nature is to be the main source of family income, find it hard to be out of work (Moody & Sasser, 2014). Indeed, there exists very little literature that sheds some light on this area, particularly on the attitudes of each gender towards retirement and process of aging. Given the significance of retirement to this life stage, the study sought to understand the emotions and views of individuals regarding their retirement through the lenses of (1) Physical health and wellbeing, (2) Friends, Family, and Community, (3) Work and leisure, (4) Finances and lifestyles, and (5) Living

It has been said that more elderly people are committing suicide because of depression, Mental illness and being unhappy with their lives. Mental illness in elderly people can be associated with a terminal disease and the pain that is associated with that disease. Diseases such as cancer, HIV, Hepatitis etc. are some of the reasons why some elderly people develop mental illness and become depressed. Older men are at higher risk then older women when it comes to committing suicide. White males 85 years and older are at the greatest risk of committing suicide among the elderly. Elderly people who are at risk of committing suicide are those who suffer with depression which can turn into clinical depression. There are different stages of depression.

The population of the United States is rapidly aging, and as it does, concerns for the mental health and life satisfaction of the elderly is growing. The U.S. Census Bureau projects a 29% increase in the overall population from 2000 to 2030. In contrast, the number of people 65-84 is expected to grow by approximately 100%, and the number of those 85 and older is expected to increase by 125%. Counselors will increasingly be called upon to meet the unique needs of this older population. One type of group that is gaining more attention for its ability to promote the

Complications are part of aging, and severe health difficulties, deteriorating purposeful capabilities, economic limitations, and loss of social position are a few of the possibly life-altering topics that elderly adults may confront (Flood & Phillips, 2007). Psychological ups and downs and lingering sickness are linked with older adulthood, and they may distress an individual’s capabilities. The social and psychological trials are owed to fluctuations in part to: minimal interactions, losses, and housing situations. Age-linked variations are unavoidable for example,