As Hong Kong's population aging issue intensifies, the mental health of the elderly has become an increasingly prominent social concern. An organization recently held a lecture on elderly mental health, inviting doctors to share methods for early identification of mental health issues in seniors, how to self-assess and differentiate between depression, anxiety, and dementia, and taught caregivers four daily techniques for emotional management and stress reduction.
According to data from the Census and Statistics Department, the proportion of Hong Kong's population aged 65 and above is projected to surge to 36 percent by 2046. Depression, anxiety, and dementia have become common mental health problems among the elderly, placing a heavy burden on individuals and families. To raise public awareness about elderly mental health, the Hong Kong Specialist Day Medical Centre and the Methodist Yang Tsat Social Service Unit Elderly Services Department (West Kowloon) recently co-organized an "Elderly Mental Health Lecture."
The keynote speaker, psychiatrist Dr. Poon Kam-shan, mentioned that "dual-elder households" and "seniors living alone" will become more common in society. Factors such as post-retirement lifestyle changes, the loss of a spouse, deteriorating health, and financial pressures can all trigger emotional distress. However, they might not proactively seek help, so society needs to strengthen support and care for these "hidden cases."
Poon explained that both depression and anxiety can share common symptoms like sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and decreased energy. Individuals with depression often persistently feel low mood, engage in self-negation, and experience slowed thinking, sometimes even exhibiting physical fatigue, headaches, chest tightness, and heart palpitations. Anxiety disorders more frequently manifest in behavioral or physiological reactions, such as nervousness, irritability, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and trembling hands or feet.
Caregivers can observe daily life—paying attention to changes in the senior's mood, behavior habits, and frequency of social interaction—to early identify potential mental health issues. She suggested that during communication with seniors, choose a quiet and comfortable environment, use a gentle and caring tone to ask questions, and patiently encourage them to express their inner feelings. If a caregiver suspects an elderly person has emotional issues, they should seek help from a family doctor, psychiatrist, or social worker as soon as possible.
Regarding dementia, Poon cited the "Hong Kong Mental Health Survey for the Elderly" conducted between 2019 and 2023, which indicated that approximately 9.7 percent of Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above are diagnosed with dementia. Symptoms include memory decline, frequently forgetting locations and names, decreased language expression ability, poor concentration, accompanied by personality changes, impaired judgment, and confusion about time and space. Delusions, hallucinations, and abnormal behaviors may also occur.
She stated that recent international research has identified many modifiable risk factors for dementia, such as lack of exercise, limited social interaction, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and being overweight. Physically, it's important to avoid head trauma, control weight, and manage conditions like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, vision impairment, hearing loss, and depression. While there is still no cure, non-pharmacological therapies like adjusting lifestyle habits, maintaining a balanced diet, and participating in group social training, alongside medication, can effectively slow disease progression and improve quality of life. Early identification and intervention are particularly crucial for delaying the progression.
Elderly individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, or dementia require long-term concern and often intensive care from family members. However, the physical and mental state of the caregivers themselves deserves attention. Dr. Poon pointed out that caregivers, whether spouses, children, other relatives, or professional caregivers like community social workers or nursing home staff, endure significant physical and mental pressure and are prone to "burnout." They should adopt appropriate methods for self-care and stress reduction:
