Older Adult Suicides: What You Should Know and What You Can Do

Abstract

Suicide among most age groups has been on the rise in the United States for the past 20 years. Suicide is currently the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, but suicide completion and suicide attempts may be underreported. Suicide is a very personal act often predicated on a sense of hopelessness and despair, but often prompted by very addressable factors such as pain and social isolation. This article will use a case narrative to illustrate life circumstances that may influence suicidal thinking. In addition, risk factors are addressed. Lastly, the article addresses some useful assessment tools to gauge suicide risk among older adult clients and provides resources for home care clinicians.