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Depression can occur among any age group, any ethnic background, and any gender. Depression does not discriminate against anyone. With the aging population increasing, I feel that discussing depression among the elderly is very important. If you are a caregiver, you may not be aware that your loved one is feeling depressed, or if you work in a nursing home, you may just think a resident is overly tired.
These are just a few of the risks associated with elderly depression. At the end of this article, I have provided many links about elderly depression that go into fuller detail. Sleeping Difficulties: Your loved one may sleep less during the night or may sleep longer than his/her usual. Look for sleeping patterns over several days. Your loved one may just be having an innocent difficulty in sleeping, but you can never be too safe. Crying Spells: Your loved one may constantly cry, either over nothing at all or over simple situations such as dropping a plate. Withdrawal: Your loved one may exclude himself from family and friends. Thoughts of Suicide: Your loved may have expressed his thoughts concerning death and may have expressed that he wishes he was not here anymore. If this happens, do receive the appropriate help. Immediately call a suicide hotline or speak to a counselor. Weight Loss or Weight Gain: Notice if your loved one has rapidly increased or decreased in weight. When depressed, some people overeat, while others undereat. The following section may be reasons why the elderly become depressed. Each person is different, so there may be different reasons. The following is just a brief list. Body Changes: Self-image is important to most people. As we age, we begin to lose our hair, our teeth may fall out, and we may get wrinkles. However, you can try to uplift your loved one by a special beauty salon treatment. Or, you can apply makeup to your loved one, shave your male loved one, anything that will help make them feel good about themselves. Loss of Family & Friends: It is inevitable that when we age, there comes a possibility of losing those close to us. Many of our loved ones may have experienced losing close friends and family. I have heard of loved ones who only have a son or daughter alive, while others have no living relatives.
The copyright of the article Depression in the Elderly in Elderly Caregiving is owned by . Permission to republish Depression in the Elderly in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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