Elderly Individuals Have Treatment Options for Depression

Your doctor can advise you regarding the treatment plan that is right for you. The plan may involve one or more methods of treating your depression. Chances are good that the plan involves a combination of different treatments.

Treatment Options:

The option that is commonly recognized due to media coverage is that of antidepressants. These medications are believed to be very effective in treating those aged 65 or older. There is a risk that the antidepressant may have a potential negative affect on other medications that you may already be taking; so always tell your doctor and your pharmacist of any other medications you are taking when antidepressants are prescribed for you. It is important to always follow dosing instructions carefully and to continue taking the medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Always tell your doctor if you experience a side-effect that is mentioned in the pharmacy leaflet or has been explained to you that you may notice. Your doctor can make changes in dosage or may even change your medication based on these side-affects.

There are many different kinds of antidepressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (tricyclics).

Another treatment option is psychotherapy. This is a method of treatment that is often times done along with medication. Therapy becomes a relationship between the counselor and the patient. Discussions are how the patient works through some of the symptoms or signs of their depression. Therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes to an hour and span weeks, months or even longer depending on the needs of the patient. Most sessions are covered by healthcare plans in full or partially. Psychotherapy is sometimes done when mediation is not a part of the treatment plan because of desire or because of counter indications is present. There are many functional and social consequences of depression in the elderly and psychotherapy has been proven to be beneficial for resolution of these issues.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used when all other methods have failed or when the patient is experiencing severe depression and all other options do not look as promising. It is a method that needs to be evaluated prior to using it. The treatment is performed only by skilled health care professions due to the fact that an electrical impulse is applied through the scalp by electrodes. The patient is under general anesthesia during the procedure. A muscle relaxant medication is usually also given to the patient to relax muscles. Patients are carefully monitored during the entire procedure. The procedure is usually given up to 3 times a week for 2 to 4 weeks depending on the needs of the patient. The patient wakes up shortly after the treatment is finished and usually remembers nothing of the treatment. There is typically a short period of confusion following the treatment.

The best prognosis for recovery from depression is usually achieved when the elderly patient is diagnosed and treated early in the depression and when the patient has a social support network that may include several types of individual and groups including those who love and care for the individual (family and friends), community groups and support groups designed for elderly individuals with depression. Treatment options may involve a combination of medication, psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and also individual and group social networking.

Keeping your Mind Sharp with these Mind Games

Exercising your brain keeps you young. Just treat your brain as any other muscle; if you don't use it, you lose it. Challenging your mind is part of what keeps you focused. When you constantly engage your brain, you keep your mind sharp and you are also more likely to retain new information. Constantly learning is the only way to keep that brain fog at bay.

If you are stuck on ways to keep your mind sharp, there are quite a few things you can do. Read on for some handy tips:

1. Crossword puzzles are a great tool for keeping your brain active. Word games keep those synapses firing and stimulate the neurons in your brain. You could forge new pathways in your brain by keeping it flexible with crossword puzzles.

2. Sudoku is another sharp tool to keep your brain focused. It is a game that is based on a grid with numbers one through nine displayed in various boxes. The object of the game is to number all the blank boxes with the appropriate number between one and nine without repeating them. Sudoku takes some getting used to so most people start off small and work their way up to progressively harder number puzzles.

3. Memorizing your favorite poetry verses or quotes can keep your brain limbered up. Memorizing something means that you working your mental muscles; you are incorporating techniques unique to you in order to accurately remember a poem, a song or something else.

4. Recognizing how you learn can go a long way towards engaging your mind. Some people learn by doing while others are visual or rely on auditory processes. If there are things you need to remember, choose your preferred method of learning to remember what you need.

5. Take a continuing education class. By always learning something new, you can continue to forge new pathways of information in your brain. Plus, the social interaction and engagement helps in keeping your mind sharp and focused.

6. Choose a diet conducive to learning. If you indulge in too many sweets, carbohydrates, alcohol or fatty foods, this can impair your thinking and make you sluggish. You want to eat fresh fruits and vegetables for the vitamin and mineral content. Choose whole grains over refined flours. Eat low-fat dairy and lean meats and fish. Drink green tea for its antioxidant properties. By choosing a healthier diet, your brain power will improve.

7. Sleep plays a big part in remembering things as well as keeping up mentally with others. When you do not get enough rest that means your brain has not had a chance to thoroughly process all the things you have learned throughout the day. So when you try to learn more things, your brain will rebel. Sleep and rest is important for maximum brain function.

So many factors affect your brain power at large. By following the handy hints above, you are doing everything possible to keep your mind sharp and your brain focused, regardless of your age.