Mental Health
Treatments
While there is no way to reverse dementia, research has shown that other mental illnesses (e.g., depression and anxiety) can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or behavioral therapy. Evidence further demonstrates that it is more cost-efficient to treat mental illness among older adults if their conditions are detected early, before they progress to more severe stages. Despite these advances, many older adults fall through the cracks of a system that is unprepared to meet their needs. Almost two-thirds of people in the community and four out of five in nursing homes do not receive appropriate treatment.
Updated: November 2, 2007
