Preventing Depression in the Elderly

Preventing depression in the elderly individual is closely connected to the symptoms of depression. Recognizing what depression is and what it looks like in an individual will help in preventing it from occurring.

Many symptoms of depression are also seen in disease such as Alzheimer's. What makes them stand out as possible depression symptoms are that they last for more than 2 weeks and are not associated with any other symptom of disease.

The symptoms of elderly depression are:

Irritable or depressed mood

Feeling unworthy or extremely sad

Loss of interest in activities that usually hold their interest

Agitation or expressions of temper

Appetite changes, typically a loss in appetite

Unintentional weight loss or weight gain

Daytime sleepiness

Difficulty falling or staying asleep at night involving multiple waking, or early morning awakenings and then not being able to go back to sleep

Fatigue not associated with a cause (medical, travel, disruptive noise etc.)

Difficulty concentrating on tasks or conversations

Memory loss not associated with disease

Excessive or inappropriate guilt

Unusual or obsessive thoughts of death

Thoughts or talk concerning suicide

Making plans to commit suicide (thoughts, actions or speech)

Recognizing the signs or symptoms of depression is just the first step to preventing depression in the elderly. Making sure that social support networking is in place before depression sets in as well as being a part of treatment for depression is the next step in preventing depression. Support groups can help individuals to deal with loss, life changes and loneliness when these things occur and also to prepare individuals for the likelihood that these events may occur and give them coping skills to learn before they are needed. There will be times though when recognizing the signs or networking for support cannot prevent depression from happening.

A key component to preventing depression in the elderly is to encourage the social support network. The network can consist of many activities such as family gatherings, neighborhood events, and senior activities within the neighborhood. Encourage those activities that are of interest to the person so as to make them feel alive and happy again with their lifestyle. Address each symptom in this manner so that a solution is found either by the person or by those who love and care for the person and can encourage them to do these activities.

Things the individual can do:

Volunteer as a way to meet others, and to give back to your community or to an organization that has perhaps been helpful to you in the past and also to do this to keep your mind sharp. Volunteering will give meaning to your life and a reason to get up and start your day.

If you have experienced a loss (spouse, adult child, and best friend) seek a support group for those with similar experiences for support.

Learn a new hobby or activity that will challenge you.

Take good care of yourself (meals, personal hygiene, and exercise).

Ease yourself into any major changes that you foresee happening in the future (prepare).

Things those who care about the elderly individual can do:

Invite them to social event, family dinners, church or other community event.

Ask to help with housework or to take them shopping and make an afternoon of it by going out to lunch before shopping.

Call them on a regular basis to find out about how their day is going or what they plan on doing over the weekend.