Why Suicide Risk Is Higher Among Older Adults—and How Families Can Help

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Senior suicides lead all age groups throughout the world and are the highest per capita in the United States.

The reasons for the high rate of senior suicides vary. But, in some way, they all have to do with loss. It may be the loss of purpose, loss of a spouse, loss of independence, loss of financial control, loss of cognitive function, loss of health, loss of social connection, or some combination.

Americans 65 and older make up 16.8% of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the same age group accounts for over 21% of suicides. Of the 49,449 suicides in 2022, 10,433 were by people in that age group.

Suicide Risk Among Senior Men Rises With Age

Men over 75 are most susceptible to suicide. At that age and above, the risk elevates. Data from the CDC illustrates how the rate scales upward across older age brackets for men:

Ages 65–74: ~26 deaths per 100,000Ages 75–84: ~38 to 40 deaths per 100,000Ages 85 and older: ~55+ deaths per 100,000

Suicide Risk Among Senior Women Decreases With Age

Unlike senior men, suicide risk among older adult women decreases with age, according to the CDC. The highest risk for women is in the 55-64 age group, where the rate is 7.8 suicides per 100,000. That figure drops steadily, reaching 3.4 per 100,000 for women over 85.

What Leads to Suicide by Older Adults

Americans are living longer than ever, with an average life expectancy of 79 years. However, for some, the golden years are tarnished.

“Suicide rates tend to be higher in older adults because of some of the life experiences they face later in life, including retirement and the onset of terminal diseases. Men are more at risk because their identity is so often connected with their work. But as an increasing number of professional women are retiring, we are seeing this impact women as well,” Jennifer Szakaly told SavingAdvice. She is the founder and CEO of Caregiving Corner in Charlotte, NC.

“Aging can make everyday life much more stressful when it comes with increased chronic pain, cognitive decline, and other chronic illnesses that make life uncomfortable and frustrating, and makes it more difficult for older adults to participate in activities that would usually help them relieve stress, such as exercise,” says Cay Schubert, Therapist, Owner at Fields That We Know Psychotherapy.

Seniors Struggle With Social Isolation

“For the past decade we have seen rates of suicide increasing,” says Dr. Dexter R. Voisin, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Dean in Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. “It’s complex, but it is related to social isolation.”

That isolation is not just due to reduced human contact, according to Voisin.

“Sometimes, even social media and technological devices leave us feeling more disconnected,” Voisin told SavingAdvice. “Life has become more hectic and daily life more challenging.”

Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report on loneliness and social connection. It determined that one in six people suffer from loneliness, which is related to 100 deaths per hour worldwide.

How to Combat Social Isolation in Older Adults

Although social isolation is a leading factor in depression and suicide in seniors, there are straightforward ways to address it.

“I think there are collective acts we can take, because we’re all implicated,” says Voisin. “What does that mean for family members? It means connecting with parents and grandparents, but there’s this sense of avoidance of the topic.”

Help May Be Close at Hand

“Absolutely, family involvement is essential,” says Voisin. Voisin has many case histories to draw on from his 30 years as a psychotherapist. One involves family intervention and technology.

“Sometimes men, who are not very sociable, interact with other people indirectly through their wives. Once they lose that spouse, that increases isolation,” says Voisin. “One gentleman, 80 years old, lost his wife, and he was very introverted. Family members were really concerned. They met with him and got him an iPad. And he got a new lease on life. He was FaceTiming with grandkids and his children, and he just loved it.”

Isolation Needs Individual Care

Voisin cautions that buying an iPad is not going to solve isolation for everyone.

“You’re not going to make somebody into an entirely different person,” he says. “You have to figure out what works for that individual.”

Voisin draws on his personal family experience.

“Sometimes religious faith communities help,” says Voisin. “My father is 92, and as he’s gotten older, he’s gotten more religious. It’s whatever makes sense to that person and builds connectivity.

“I have a colleague; she’s 100 years old. Twice a day she gets a phone call from her two daughters. One call at 11 o’clock and at two o’clock in the afternoon from the other daughter. That’s the sense of connection for her, but that connection might look very different for someone else.”

Fear of Becoming a Burden

“Cognitive decline and loss of self-sufficiency can certainly play a role in adult suicides because many adults fear becoming dependent on others for care,” says Szakaly.

Good intentions can contribute to the fear of becoming dependent on others, adds Schubert.

“Many people, especially the adult children of seniors, make the well-meaning mistake of trying to relieve them of all responsibilities,” Schubert told SavingAdvice. “Unfortunately, the unintended consequence of this behavior pattern is that it often leads seniors to feel useless and burdensome. On the other hand, encouraging them to contribute to family and community activities in whatever ways they are capable of, and emphasizing how much their contributions are valued and appreciated, leads to much better mental and physical health outcomes in the long run.”

Warning Signs of Senior Suicide 

Spotting warning signs of suicidal intent can be difficult. However, there are some things that merit a closer look, according to the experts who spoke with SavingAdvice.

“If folks are making statements like, ‘I feel like I’m not right’ or ‘I feel like life is hopeless’ or they withdraw from family and activities they once enjoyed; if there is a decline in personal hygiene, appetite, sleep. These are all potential symptoms,” says Voisin. “Sometimes the symptoms of suicide get missed with the elderly because people associate those things with getting older.”

On the other hand, family and friends often do not know how to talk to loved ones about suicide, according to Voisin.

“Sometimes they’re scared to say, ‘Are you thinking about hurting yourself? Are you thinking about suicide?,’” he says. “They’re afraid that if they ask the question, it’s going to plant ideas in the person’s mind. The research shows that is not the case.”

Being direct and empathetic works best in most cases, according to Voisin.

“So, sometimes the best thing you can do is to ask directly, without judgment,” he says. “Then listen, listen and have compassion.”

Suicidal Tendencies in Elderly Hard to Diagnose

According to the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed Central, 70% of older adults who die by suicide saw their primary care provider within 30 days of their death. That may seem odd until you realize that depression in older patients is more difficult to recognize. That is due, in part, to senior patients focusing on physical problems rather than emotional ones.

“There can be warning signs, but these can also be indications of something else that’s happening with the older adult besides suicidal ideation,” says Szakaly. “A person becoming more withdrawn from social activities can be a sign that they need mental health support, but it can also be a natural reaction to hearing loss or an increase in impairments.”

At the same time, Szakaly says you should act quickly if you feel a loved one is in danger of committing suicide.

“Act immediately and don’t be dismissive just because of a person’s age. Suicidal thoughts should be taken seriously and treated the same regardless of age,” she says. “The person’s doctor needs to be notified immediately, and 911 should be called if the person intends to act on a plan. Some areas have geriatric psychiatric units within emergency departments or hospitals that can be accessed for stabilization as well.”

Where to Find Mental Health Support Covered by Medicare

In addition to the challenge of diagnosing older adults with suicidal tendencies, getting care can be challenging. Many mental health professionals refuse to accept Medicare. In fact, until the Mental Health Access Improvement Act was enacted in January 2024, mental health counselors were not eligible for Medicare reimbursement.

There are several ways to find a mental health provider who accepts Medicare, including:

For immediate help, you can call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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Max K. Erkiletian is a seasoned journalist and analytical reporter with nearly 40 years of experience. He has been nominated for several honors and was part of a team that won the Missouri Press Association’s Community Service Award.

His experience has included covering a wide range of topics, from crime reporting to politics and music. His interview subjects have included U.S. Senators, such as Tom Eagleton; economists, such as Arthur Laffer; former Fed Chair Paul Volcker; and musicians, such as Muddy Waters and B. B. King.

Today, he focuses on personal finance, consumer protection, economic shifts, and investment trends. His reporting aims to make complex issues understood and show how events impact consumers’ wallets.