Depression Amongst The Elderly

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Depression Amongst The Elderly

• Prepared by Avani Patel, Project Intern
• Asian Health Coalition of Illinois
• Asian Mental Health Partnership Initiative

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Why is depression amongst elderly often
overlooked?

• Most people assume seniors have good reason to be
  down because it is a natural part of aging
• Elderly are often left alone, with few people
  around to notice their distress
• Doctors are more likely to overlook depression
  and give more attention to physical complaints
• Many depressed seniors dont want to talk about
  their feelings or ask anyone for help

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Introductory Facts

• According to the National Institute of Health,
  about 2 million elderly, age 65 or older, suffer
  from major depression
• Another 5 million elderly suffer from less severe
  forms of depression
• These high risk individuals include those who
  have
• family history of depression
• failing health
• substance abuse problems
• poor social support

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Grief vs. Depression

• Understanding the difference
• grieving person may experience a number of
  depressive symptoms such as frequent crying and
  profound sadness
• grief is a natural and healthy response to death
  or other major losses
• difference between a normal grief reaction and
  one that is disabling
• no set time limit for grieving, but if it doesnt
  get better over time or erases all signs of joy,
  it may be depression

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Causes Risk Factors

• Loneliness and isolation
• living alone
• fewer friends due to deaths or moving into
  nursing homes
• not being able to get around due to illness or
  loss of driving privileges
• 2. Reduced sense of purpose
• feeling empty and worthless
• loss of identity due to retirement or physical
  limitations on activities
• 3. Health problems
• illness or disability
• continual or severe pain
• cognitive decline
• damage to body image due to surgery or disease

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Causes Risk Factors(Continued)

• 4. Medications
• prescription drugs can trigger depression
• Fears
• fear of dying
• anxiety over financial problems or health issues
• Recent grief
• death of friends, family members, or pets
• loss of spouse or partner

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Signs of Depression in Elderly

• Unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling helpless
• Increased anxiety and worrying
• Troubles with memory
• Loss of feeling pleasure
• Slowed movement
• Irritability
• Decrease of personal care
• -skipping meals
• -forgetting medications
• -avoiding personal hygiene

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Symptoms of Depression in Elderly

• Severe sadness
• Tiredness and low energy
• Losing interest in hobbies
• Not wanting to be with friends, take part in
  activities, or leave home
• Weight loss loss of appetite
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at
  night, oversleeping, or daytime sleepiness
• Excessive worrying about being a burden or
  feeling worthless
• Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
• Obsessing about death, or suicidal thoughts or
  attempts

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Self-Help Strategies

• Getting out
• try not to stay at home all day
• go to the park, have lunch with a friend, or
  participate in enjoyable hobbies
• Connect with others
• limit the time youre alone
• invite others visit you
• keep in touch over phone or email
• Volunteer
• helping others is a good way to feel better about
  yourself

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Self- Help Strategies (Continued)

• Learn a new skill
• begin something that youve always wanted to
  learn
• Maintain a healthy diet
• avoid eating too much sugar or junk food
• eat healthy foods that supply energy
• take daily multivitamins
• Exercise
• even if youre ill or disabled, there are many
  safe exercises that can build strength and
  improve mood

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Screening Diagnosis

• Before diagnosing an elderly adult with
  depression, he/she should be screened for common
  health issues that may be the cause of depressed
  moods
• General Health Conditions
• Hormonal imbalances
• Thyroid problems
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Other nutritional deficiencies
• Electrolyte imbalances or dehydration

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Screening Diagnosis (Continued)

• Medical Conditions
• Heart attack or disease
• Parkinsons disease
• Stroke
• Alzheimers
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cancer
• Diabetes

• Medicine-Induced
• Steroids
• Painkillers
• Hormones
• Arthritis medication
• High blood pressure drugs
• Heart disease medication
• Tranquilizers
• Cancer drugs 

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Treatment Options Professional Help

• 1. Counseling Therapy
• religious and/or peer counseling that can help
  lower the hopelessness of depression
• helps in dealing with stressful life changes,
  healing from losses, and processing difficult
  emotions
• assists people in changing their negative
  thinking patterns and developing better coping
  skills
• support groups connect people with others who are
  going through the same struggles and allows for
  an environment to share experiences, receive and
  offer advice, and provide encouragement

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Treatment Options Professional Help (Continued)

• 2. Anti-depressant medications
• Cautionary Reminders
• use in elderly adults should be carefully
  monitored
• increased sensitivity side effects of actual
  medication and to interactions with other
  medications they may be taking
• more likely to forget to take medication due to
  age
• SSRIs can cause rapid bone loss and higher risk
  for fractures

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Any Questions?