PTSD in Elders

Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD for short, is a psychiatric condition that can affect people of all ages, including older adults. It happens after one experience or is witness to a traumatic event or set of circumstances. It is a complex disorder that can be physical or emotional, or both, and create a negative impact on a person’s mental health and quality of life.

PTSD can emerge or re-emerge later in life due to life changes like retirement, loss of loved ones, increased health problems, loss of mobility or sensory abilities, reduced income, cognitive impairment, or other stressors. According to a study from 2016, 50 to 90 percent of older adults in the United States have been exposed to a traumatic event.

PTSD is also common among older adults who are military veterans and experienced combat situations. Memories of wartime experience can in particular be upsetting and can cause issues even long after completing their military service.

According to the National Center for PTSD, symptoms in older adults can vary from person to person, but there are several common symptoms for those who have experienced trauma. When a person experiences trauma, the memories of it may return at any time, even years later. These memories can be triggered by something that reminds a person of the event.

Watching a war movie, seeing a graphic news report, or witnessing something similar firsthand can all be triggering and cause flashbacks, nightmares, and panic attacks. Seniors with PTSD may try to avoid things that remind them of the event, like large groups of people, or sometimes even leaving the house.

If you or a loved one are experiencing the symptoms of PTSD, it’s important to ask for help and seek treatment. Reach out to friends, family, healthcare providers, and anyone else who can offer support.