The Many Causes of Elderly Depression

There are many biological, environmental, genetic and psychological factors that determine what causes elderly depression. Each individual who suffers from elderly depression has a unique set of factors. Sometimes these factors are easy to spot and other times they are masked by other diseases or because of the stigma associated with mental illness in this age group. It is important to explore the cause of elderly depression because they are at a high risk not only for depression but for those who succumb to the grips of depression they are at great risk for suicide.

Elderly females are at twice the risk as the males for developing depression. It is suspected that not only biological factors, such as hormones, but the stresses of relationships or their caregiver roles that contribute to this statistic.

Biological risk factors such as having the following diseases can also put an elderly individual at increased risk for depression:

* Having had a heart attack
* Suffering a stroke
* Experiencing a hip fracture
* Suffering from macular degeneration
* Having Heart bypass surgery

Loss is a contributing factor of which those who are elderly naturally have experienced more of as life goes by.

* Loss of spouse
* Business or personal partner
* Close friends
* Family members
* A son or daughter
* Neighbors
* Co-workers or Co-volunteers
* And community members

They may also suffer physical loss of a limb or other body part that can cause symptoms of depression. Grief from loss is normal but when it causes the individual to be unable to function it can be depression and not normal grief.

Life changes occur at any age but are more likely to occur when we are of retirement age and family members are more likely to have moved away. Retirement often means relocating from familiar neighborhoods and homes. The elderly may become immobile or otherwise medically unable to care for themselves and be placed in nursing homes or assisted living communities. These life changes often are factors for depression as they cause psychological and emotional harm.

As we age our aches and pains increase not only the physical kind but the emotional kind too as relationships change or fail depression can be the result.

There are many stresses in life that cause depression including financial hardship. Often times the elderly are forced into retirement before they are financially ready. They can be on fixed incomes in an economy that makes it difficult for a two-income family to survive. The elderly are often less able to recover from financial loss as those who are younger can have the ability to do simply because job opportunities are not as plentiful for those who are elderly.

Certain medications can also be the cause of depression. The physician prescribing those medications most likely to be included in this group should note this side affect as a possibility and advise the individual to use caution. Medications for hypertension are one of the types of drugs in this group.

Isolation and being lonely are also common causes of depression in the elderly. Those who have been widowed, or have never married are less likely to have family members to care for them when they grow older. This can mean that there support system may be lacking unless they are connected by community programs to groups that can give them encouragement and assistance when needed.