Depression in the Elderly

Symptoms of Depression in the Elderly:

Many elderly people fall into depression due to the death of their spouse or due to prolonged ill health. Mainly to people who don’t have people around to support them. Depression is unusual in old age and if they are depressed then they cannot enjoy their old age.

Causes of Depression  in the Elderly:

Many elderly people are at high risk when they have lost somebody in the family, have a family history of depression, ill health, if someone else abuses them or if they don’t have the required support from their family and friends.

• Lonesomeness- living alone or lost movement due to ill health.

• Loss of identity- Old people feels they have lost their identity after retirement or feel they are without any purpose in this world.

• Health problems- Sickness or immobility or Sever pain like arthritis or any damage caused due to any surgery.

• Treatment – If they are on any continuous medicines by the prescription of the doctor, then that may also cause depression.

• Phobia- Phobia about death or certain financial problems.

• Mourning- Somebody close had passed away and the mourning can also cause depression in old people.

Symptoms of Depression in the Elderly:

With the following signs and symptoms we can know that old people are suffering from depression.

• If they are grief-stricken.

• If they feel weak and fatigued.

• They don’t take part in any hobbies or go out of their room or house.

• Loss of appetite and due to which lose weight.

• Insomnia or Hypersomnia due to which they don’t sleep during the night and feel always sleep during the day time.

• Over tensed due to some sort of financial problem.

• Always talk about death.

• Use of alcohol or other sort of drugs more.

Depressed Adults without Sadness:

Depression in older people cannot be compared with the regular depression. Many senior citizens who feel depressed are not sad at all. They will instead grumble about some sort of physical problem or lack of energy. Elderly people those who suffer from arthritis or migraine headaches suffer more depression. At times they are more anxious and petulant. They will be continuously talking about death or their ill health or their financial state.

Helping a Depressed Senior Citizen:

If a close senior friend of yours is suffering from depression you can be emotionally supportive to them. Try to spend some time with them and if they want some sort of physical help like going to shop or accompanying them to the doctor.

The following tips can be followed to help a person with signs of depression on him.

• Offer them for a walk with you. Also you can invite them for a trip out to a park or a museum, when you are going out with your family member which will refresh them as they would feel relieved and rejuvenated by seeing nature.

• Make regular visit to their place and try to spend sometime with them and listen to what they say, as old people tend to talk more.

• If you know any community center or group recommend them as a member. If they get a chance to become friendly with other people then they will surely come out of their depressed feeling.

• Prepare them nice and healthy diet. Undernourished diet may make them more depressed. If he is friend of your try getting them some healthy fruits and vegetables whenever you visit.

• Always instruct them kindly that they should take their medications on time and if they are alcoholic make them understand that alcohol is not good for their health and help them come out of it.

The above said are the Symptoms of Depression and useful steps to be followed to help a depressed senior citizen.