Blue moods and occasional sadness can hit anyone at any age. Everyone feels down from time to time. However, a large number of seniors often face geriatric depression due to increased loss in their lives.
Geriatric depression can occur due to the loss of a spouse, loss of a growing number of long time family members and friends, or the loss of ability to perform tasks as well as one once was able. Seniors also face depression when dealing with long-term illness or loss of health.
Sadness or depression?
Sadness over a loss may enter a seniors life at any time, but when sadness hangs on and refuses to leave then there is cause for concern. When they loses their ability to enjoy life, have little or no interest in normal activities, and struggles to get out of bed, they should see a health care provider to determine whether they are suffering from depression.
Many people think if they just hang in for a few days or weeks, depression will leave. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Depression will continue to drag a person down until they have no hope for the future.
If someone experiences grief due to the loss of someone close, such as a spouse, there will be an amount of time for normal grieving. They may even feel sadness for several weeks or months. That’s called situational depression.
When they have lost the will to live, and decide they no longer want to go on without their loved-one, they more than likely are suffering from the more serious chronic depression.
Illness and depression
Depression is not just associated with the loss of someone or something. Depression attaches itself to such illnesses as heart attacks, diabetes, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Any long-term, chronic illness will all to often have depression as a partner.
Although depression hits many people in their late 30s and 40s, it often shows up again around the time people retire. Geriatric depression shows up when people are focused on their negative surroundings, having lost their joy of life because of job and health-related loss.
Depression is treatable
Fortunately, geriatric depression is treatable. As we continue to post a series of entries about depression, we will take a deeper look at the signs and symptoms, causes, and treatment options of this insidious disease.
We will also take a look at how you can help someone who is struggling with depression. Hopefully, we can all help make a positive difference in the life of an elderly adult who might be suffering from geriatric depression.
1 response so far ↓
1 Mary // Jun 15, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Thanks for addressing this important issue.