Handling Elderly Depression Through Diet and Nutrition Services

Treating depression in elderly involves many methods including medications, psychotherapy for support network building and coping skills and other therapies. One area that must not be ignored when treating depression in those over age 65 is that of proper diet and nutritional programs.

There is a definite relationship between the food we ingest and the timing of our eating patterns and the ability of our bodies to prevent or to fight off illnesses including depression. The body to rebuild cells, to be converted into energy and used by all of our body's systems, uses food. Not receiving proper diet as in: the right diet for our age and state of our body (health or illness) and also to receive this diet on a timely basis that is needed for proper functioning (only eating once a day versus 3 meals with 2 snacks) can have a devastating affect on the ability of the body to handle illnesses like depression.

Individuals aged 65 or older (the elderly) face several obstacles when it comes to receiving proper diet and nutrition. Those obstacles are:

Lifestyle changes such as becoming suddenly widowed may force someone who has never had to cook or prepare meals to be without the means of doing so without community assistance.

Individuals on limited or fixed budgets such as those on disability or welfare programs may easily run out of the ability to purchase needed food items.

Those age 65 or older may encounter limited mobility that can hamper the ability to have access to stores or other food sources such as community meal programs.

Taste and appetite changes with age, making food unappealing.

Depression can create an "unhealthy view on caring for the body" that includes receiving meals and the individual may be prone to skip meals or just to not eat at all.

The older body creates less stomach acid and saliva, which may impede digestion in the elderly individual making mealtime stressful.

Many elderly suffer from loneliness, which can lead to loss of appetite.

Those who are depressed may either decrease their eating patterns or it may lead to overeating and weight gain, which has its own health problems.

Available dietary and nutritional programs for the elderly are:

Community senior services that assist the elderly with transportation to area stores and services (medical and pharmaceutical facilities) can be located and utilized.

Meals-on-wheels and other nutritional programs set up to bring one hot meal a day to those who are facing immobility issues.

Senior community programs that help the elderly to learn about safe cooking and preparing meals for one that teach coping skills use to prepare proper meals at home safely and effectively.

Seniors can be taught to reduce sodium intake or use sodium substitutes when cooking or preparing meals. They can monitor the fat intake and cholesterol levels by keeping regular doctor appointments. These levels will help determine dietary measure that should be taken to help keep their body in good condition so that they can fight off depression and all illnesses.

Seniors need to learn how to eat the proper combination of dairy, fiber-rich foods, and to have proper intake of water all of which will also help to prevent or decrease symptoms of depression.