When you have an elderly loved
one, it’s wise to keep abreast on the ever-evolving medical world and all the
new findings for mental health as a person ages. One committee with which you
should become most familiar is the American Psychiatric Association and their
upcoming best-seller, the DSM5. The book may usher in new ways of approaching
elders and depression, and some are apprehensive about the book’s impact.
The concern over the DSM5 has come to a slow boil. The conversation about DSM5 has begun seeping out from the academic literature and into the public square with articles like a recent piece in The New York Times titled “Time to Recognize Mild Cognitive Disorder?”
The DSM5 will be the sequel to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder IV (DSM-IV), the utterly necessary reference book and dust-gatherer of psychologists, doctors, insurance companies, bureaucrats, and lawyers alike. DSM-IV chronicles known and diagnosable psychological disorders.
For seniors, the new disorder making the rounds is “mild cognitive disorder.” This diagnosis is an attempt to bring to psychiatry the same awareness to levels of cognitive senility that medical doctors know all too well and yet still understand too little. If the DSM5 is published as is, and becomes the go-to reference, then we’re likely to see many more elderly diagnosed into categories that have only just now been created.
It’s useful to understand the basis for any diagnosis made by doctors when it comes to our elderly loved ones or even ourselves as we age. Don’t forget – proper planning now can give you peace of mind for any future diagnosis concerning your healthcare needs. At Idaho Estate Planning, we understand the challenges faced by elder Americans. We have the experience and expertise to help you maintain your options and protect yourself as well as your loved ones now and into the future. Remember, good planning is no accident.
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