Photo by Sarah Owens.
Cheryl Dodson is the executive director of the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition, and she often teaches educational classes in suicide prevention.
The suicide rate in the United States reached a historic high in 2022, and while nearly every age group experienced an increase from 2021, older Americans fared the worst, according to the National Council on Aging.
Suicide death rates rose 8.1% among people age 65 and older, compared to a 3% increase among all ages, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. In 2022, among the nearly 49,449 suicides that took place in the United States, 10,433 (21%) were attributed to people age 65 and older.
Older adults tend to plan suicide more carefully and are more likely to use more lethal means, according to the National Library of Medicine.
As people age, they often lose their sense of purpose and hope, for a variety of reasons, said Cheryl Dodson, executive director for the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition.
For some people, it’s a loss of physical abilities, while for others it may be the loss of a spouse, which can lead to loneliness and isolation.
While our culture is more connected than ever through tools such as social media, there still is a lot of disconnection, Dodson said. “An elderly person can go a week without speaking to someone if their phone doesn’t ring for a week,” she said.
Older adults also tend to be on fixed incomes, and as the cost of living increases, it can create great stress for them, Dodson said.
Even when loved ones help take care of them, many of those who consider suicide do so because they don’t want to be a burden, she said.
Signs that an elderly person may be considering suicide include giving away belongings, sudden talk of the end of their life, risky behavior, rehoming a pet, extreme fatigue, impulsive spending and alcohol or substance abuse, Dodson said.
“For people in crisis, the most powerful thing you can do is listen,” she said. You don’t have to have all the answers; just giving them a safe space to talk can save a life, she said.
The best advice she has for someone considering suicide is to reach out to someone to talk, she said. For those who are grieving, the Community Grief Support organization is a good resource, she said. The 988 suicide and crisis hotline is another, she said.
It’s also important to build connections with others, Dodson said.
Melanie Perry, manager of the New Merkel House in Cahaba Heights (which is open to anyone in Jefferson County), said senior centers are a great way for older adults to get social interaction and make friends. Seniors gather there daily for activities such as tai chi, rummikub, dominoes and more, she said.
“It does make a difference to be around friends and like folks,” Perry said. “They’d stay here all day if I’d let ’em.”
Rudy Duda, 80, said they have four or five people who have lost spouses, and coming to the New Merkel House is their saving grace.
“It’s a place to come. Otherwise, you’d be sitting alone in your house. That’s a lonely situation, and that’s what we avoid,” Duda said.
Bill Farris, an 89-year-old from Liberty Park, said he goes to the New Merkel House five days a week. “I just love everybody up here,” Farris said while playing dominoes recently. “I love being around all the people.”
To learn more about suicide prevention and older adults, visit the National Council on Aging website at ncoa.org and search “suicide.”
This story is part of our September series for suicide prevention month. Read our stories on Suicide Prevention Month and how local schools are addressing mental health issues for more information.
