Mental Health/Behavioral Health

1. Mental Health/Behavioral Health • Legally competent—a person is capable of making appropriate decisions • Clinically competent—individual’s ability to identify problems, recognize options, make decisions, and provide the rationale supporting the decisions

2. Dementia • Syndrome that involves a slowly progressive cognitive decline, sometimes referred to as chronic confusion • Global impairment of intellectual function that is generally chronic and progressive • Alzheimer’s disease

3. Delirium • Acute state of confusion • Usually short-term and reversible within 3 weeks or less • Often seen among older adults in a setting with which they are unfamiliar • Can include physical manifestations of change

4. Depression • Mood disorder that can have cognitive, affective, and physical manifestations • Primary depression • Secondary or situational depression • Geriatric Depression Scale used for assessment • Treatment generally includes drug therapy and psychotherapy

6. Elder Neglect and Abuse • Neglect—failure to provide basic needs • Physical abuse—use of physical force that results in bodily injury • Financial abuse—mismanagement or misuse of property or resources • Emotional abuse—intentional use of threats, humiliation, intimidation, and isolation

7. Did you know that having a pet could lead to longer life? See what certain parts of Japan, Italy, Costa Rica and the Unites States have to do with aging. Darren Robb/Getty Images

8. Agin • Diet and exercise are important, but laughtcan also help you and your heart feel better. Next, see something else that's good for the heart (and soul too)... • Deborah Jaffe/Getty Images Diet and exercise are important but laughter can make you and your heart feel better Deborah Jaffe/Getty Images http://health.howstuffworks.com/life-stages/aging/healthy-aging-pictures6.htmare