The Center for Mental Health & Aging blog is your “go-to” resource for mental health and aging. Each article contains helpful information to deepen your understanding of aging, mental health in older adulthood, dementia, caregiving, family dynamics, and so much more.
December 28, 2021
As a clinical health psychologist specializing in chronic pain and illness, I have spent the past 12 years working with people who have chronic pain, and during that time I…
October 7, 2021
The stories of deaf older adults and their families need to be shared and heard. For the past couple of years, I have been following and sharing the story of…
July 15, 2021
According to a study by the CDC, chronic pain impacts over 16,386,000 older adults age 65-84 and an additional 2,596,000 MORE adults over the age of 85 (Dahlhamer et al,…
July 15, 2021
How common is pain among seniors? For better or for worse, most of us associate chronic pain with getting older. We assume that as we age, our bodies will…
June 15, 2021
By 2034, there will be more adults 65 and older than children under the age of 18. Approximately 1 in 4 of older adults experiences a mental health condition, including…
May 19, 2021
Have you been struggling to engage your sibling in your aging parent's care? Perhaps you reach out and they don't respond. Perhaps they refuse to help. In this article I…
May 13, 2021
As helpers and caregivers it can be difficult to take a break and give ourselves grace to engage in our own self-care practice. Research shows that caregivers have higher rates…
March 30, 2021
Over 75% of adults with developmental disabilities live at home with family. There is a growing population of aging caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities, in part due to increased…
March 29, 2021
If you have an aging parent who is a primary caregiver it can be hard to know what to say and do. Caregivers, especially spouses, may be hesitant to ask…
March 17, 2021
Understanding the role transitions along the caregiver's journey will help you to gain clarity with the common struggles and what you can do about them. Knowing that you’re not alone…
February 23, 2021
Helping aging parents move into a senior living or assisted living environment can be overwhelming, and emotions can easily escalate. Here are 12 tips for managing those emotions during difficult…
February 13, 2021
Dear Dr. Koepp, My 85 year old dad is calling me multiple times a day. It’s interrupting my time at work. Sometimes he needs something. Sometimes, he just wants to…
