What to Expect When Depressed And Elderly

Depressed elderly individuals have many symptoms that can betray their real condition. Most elderly will not admit to being sad, so others have to take clues from how they act, physical signs of depression and symptoms such as confusion, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, forgetfulness and vague aches and pains.

Unlike younger people who are depressed, the elderly may have various diseases or disabilities that cause them to lose social support. Life changes such as death of a spouse or sibling or closest friend; changes in residence like moving to a retirement home. The elderly are often overlooked and isolated which complicates diseases such as depression.

Elderly individuals who are depressed often find that their depression lasts longer as treatment starts off at a lower dosage than it does for younger individuals. The elderly are more sensitive to medications so the dose is low to start as a precaution against over sensitivity to medications.

Depression in the elderly can worsen physical illnesses increasing healing times, which increases cost.

Elderly individual can expect that certain factors increase their risk for depression including certain medications that they may be on for high blood pressure, indigestion, or inflammation. Depression may also be a symptom of another illness; so reporting symptoms of depression to a doctor and receiving an evaluation is important to your health. Other risk factors for depression can be found in your family history. Those with family members who have depression have an increased risk themselves to become depressed. Loss such as physical loss of body parts, or loss from the death of a spouse, friend or other family member. Their own past suicide attempt can also put them at risk for future depression episodes.

Chronic or severe pain increases the risk for depression. The elderly individual can expect that the treatment plan for depression may be a combination medication, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy.

The medications that will likely be prescribed are antidepressants. Antidepressants may take longer to work because doctors will start at a lower dose, as they are generally more sensitive to medications.

Psychotherapy can help the individual to learn coping skills for dealing with stress and life changes. Psychotherapy is usually in combination with medication therapy.

Elderly patients who do not respond to traditional treatments for depression may be good candidates for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). A medical doctor performs this procedure. ECT is usually repeated on a regular basis (weekly or monthly). ECT may also be done on those patients unable to take medications.

When you are elderly and depressed it is difficult to ask for help. Depression can be very isolating. The feelings of sadness, can be overwhelming and without a support system depression can worsen.