Elderly Depression

Contrary to popular belief, depression is not the normal path to growing old. With age, people get weakened emotionally. So, they fail to cope with emotional trauma such as loneliness, loss of a loved one and fall into depression. This not only affects the mental but also the physical health as well. Depression also prevents the elderly from enjoying their last stage in life. To identify depression early and help overcome it, is the best way to prevent it from getting worse. All that is required is a caring hand so that the person does not feel isolated. Read the article below to know more on elderly depression.

Loneliness
Elderly people suffer most from loneliness. This can result from either rejection or death and relocation of friends and family. They may also get isolated due to disease and sickness, resulting in depression.

Loss Of Purpose Or Identity
Due to loss of mobility or a lack of work life, there sets in a sense of purposelessness, which leads to depression. Since, the elderly are generally retired; there is nothing for them to assert their identity. This loss, coupled with the frustration of not doing anything, brings in the depression. 

Health
One of the major causes of depression among the elderly is due to health related issues. Chronic illness and pain, disability or any such decline in the body and mental health, can result in severe depression. 

Frustration And Anxiety
The death of loved ones can cause tremendous emotional upheavals that can push the elderly person towards depression. Financial problems and other tensions like difficulty in adapting to change, which lead to frustration and anxiety, causes depression. 

Medications
Some prescription and anti-depression drugs can trigger depression. 

Symptoms Of Depression
There are several symptoms by which depression can be identified. However, it should not be confused with other ailments like Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, dementia and stroke. The symptoms are:

 

Medications
Anti depressant medicine are particularly effective. However, such drugs can react with other medication and cause side effect. So, the doctor should consult the patient’s medical history and prescribe those anti- depressants which do not lead to side effects. In the elderly people anti depressant medicine take longer time to take, effect and they are also very sensitive to medicine. 

Therapy And Counseling
This is the best treatment for depression. Involving family and friends greatly improves the chance of recovering from depression. Showing love and care is the best therapy for the depressed. If the person is suffering from severe depression then help should be taken from a professional therapist. Undergoing therapy will stimulate the emotional growth, which will make the person strong enough to ward off depressive feelings.