Mental Health of the Empty Nest Elderly

Abstract

Mental health is an integral part of every human being. The empty nest elderly face double the challenges in their life that threaten their mental health. The nest (family) becomes emptying due to departure of young ones, with the presence of only elderly called empty-nest family, and the elderly in the family are empty nest elderly. Lowered interaction, rare visits, and less intensity of communication with the young adults, family conflict, strained parental relationship, abuse and neglect, poor physical health, financial stress, lack of social capital, social support, and poor social network cause the higher level of mental health conditions such as loneliness, depression, stress, anxiety, fear, lower cognitive ability, and lower life satisfaction. Regular contacts, frequent visits, interaction with the children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, and relatives directly or through phone, good marital relationship, good health, physical activities, financial stability, cognitive skill, self-efficacy, social capital, social support, and social network are the elements that promote the mental well-being of the empty nest elderly. Providing awareness by the mental health professionals on empty-nest transition and coping mechanisms, transnational care, daycare centers, and elderly parks to involve them with yoga, meditation, and physical exercises; entertaining them through dance and music; and taking them for excursions are the strategies that could be adopted to raise the quality of life and improve the mental well-being of the empty nest elderly.