Depression is a term that has a lot of taboo surrounding it. Some people consider it ‘just a phase’, and some may consider it a ploy to gain attention. But depression – actual mood disorder – is far deeper and more severe than anyone can think of.
Many people say or tag a particular age as depression, but this disorder can hit anyone, and the consequences of it varies from person to person.
Depression among older adult
Depression is a severe mood disorder that, if left untreated, can easily affect your quality of life. Depression, in general, affects the way one feels, acts, and thinks. Depression is more common than one thinks when talking about senior or geriatric patients.
Statistically speaking, studies show that even though adults feel more satisfied with life than their younger counterparts, if these adults had experienced depression in their more youthful times, the chances are high that they would experience depression in old age.
Depression is a topic that can have multiple headings. But today, first, let us discuss the word depression and the clinical aspects surrounding the mentioned term. To be depressed can be a condition or just a person’s state. Depression is often associated with being sad, lazy, or not wanting to do anything. But being clinically depressed is different.
Clinical depression has causes embedded in biological, psychological, and social sources of distress.
While being depressed or sad is temporary and fleeting, being clinically depressed is not that easy to cure. Some scientists and researchers have found that being clinically depressed can cause changes in brain functions, including the altered activity of neural circuits in the brain.
So, if you or someone you love is depressed or showing signs of depression, visit a professional as soon as possible. And receive the correct therapy as depression can lead to a variety of behavioural as well as physical symptoms, and thoughts of suicide in extreme cases.
Types of Depression
Depression is a common problem that aging people face. There are multiple reasons as to why and several types of depression that older adults may face;
- Major depressive disorder: This type of depressive disorder has symptoms that can last at least two weeks, and it also interferes with the person’s ability to perform daily tasks.
- Persistent depressive disorder: Persistent depressive disorder of Dysthymia is a state of being depressed or a depressed mood that can last almost more than 2 years. However, compared to major depressive disorder, the person may still have some functions and can perform daily tasks in this case.
- Substance or medication-induced depressive disorder: As the name suggests, this type of depressive disorder is related to using substances like alcohol or even pain medication.
- Depressive disorder due to some medical condition: Sometimes you can have depression related to a separate illness, like heart disease or multiple sclerosis, which turns this into a case of secondary depression.
There are many more types of depression that many people – especially older people can face in their lives, like psychotic depression, postmenopausal depression, and seasonal affective disorder. With the rise of depression, it is even more important that we care for our elders and be on the look out for signs and symptoms. If anyone in the family or close ones – especially the elderly –are showing symptoms of depression consult a professional as soon as possible.
So now that we know a bit about depression, how do we help those– especially the elderly– with clinical depression? How do we make their lives easier, a little bit happier?
Supporting those who suffer from depression
Depression is a disorder that needs assistance and guidance from a trained professional, a doctor. With sufficient and appropriate guidance and with family and friends offering their full support in finding and working out the treatment, although depression can’t be cured, it can still improve the person’s condition.
There are a few ways in which you can help to care for the elderly depression patient, things as;
- Encouraging them to seek proper medical treatment and duly stick with the doctor’s prescribed treatment.
- If possible, try to set up appointments and/or accompany them to the doctor’s office or a support group to show your support and love.
- Participate and let the elderly enjoy the activities that they love to do.
- Physical activity/exercise is a great way to boost the mood and helps lift the thick blanket of depression that sometimes surrounds the patient. So asking if the patient wants to go out for a walk or some light yoga can be beneficial to the patient.
Do not worry, though. Depression, even severe cases of depression, can be treated. As long as you seek treatment as soon as you notice the signs, there are good chances that your depression can be treated fully.
If you see an elderly and feel that they might be depressed, go up and talk to them. Let them know how you are doing. Let them tell you what they have been doing, what troubles them, what gives them hope, et cetera.
And if nothing works, then certain medications can help relieve the stress of the depressive state.
Common ways to treat depression include;
- Psychotherapy: Another word can be counseling or talk therapy. This method helps the person identify themselves, who they are, and what is troubling their emotions, thoughts, and behavior. It is best done with a psychiatrist and other licensed clinical social workers.
- Medications: To balance hormones that may be the cause of affecting your mood, like serotonin, medication that improves the level of serotonin can help.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): It involves placing electrodes on the person’s head enabling a safe, mild electric current to pass through the brain. This is a last-minute procedure and is only done if the person has not improved in the other treatments.
Final Thought
So now that you know what geriatric therapy is, the reason why they exist, and how they thrive, now it is your duty to keep a lookout for all your loved ones. Especially someone old, and make sure if there is even mild symptom, you should talk to your doctor immediately.
Aastha Geriatric Center for the Elderly provides an active aging and preventive care programme, as well as home-based care and specialized care centers such as skilled nursing facilities, transitional care facilities, palliative care and hospice centers, memory care centers, and psychiatric care units. For more information visit- Hospice (meegodigital.com)