Understanding Elderly Depression

Elderly depression is when an individual in later life (65 or older) suffers from depression. Depression in the elderly individual typically goes hand-in-hand with other medical diseases or disabilities. Depression in the elderly is often made worse by loss of a support system when life changes such as a death of a spouse, or siblings and friends and also events like retirement or relocation can lead to a decrease of individuals available to support them mentally, emotionally or with daily tasks.

The elderly are at higher risk for severe depression and suicide due to the fact that most depression in older adults goes unnoticed by medical staff or family and friends.

Individuals aged 65 or older with depression are considered to be a major public health problem by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Out of the 6 million Americans who are aged 65 or older and depressed only 10% of them will seek treatment.

Long-term illness, prevalent in this age group is a common trigger for depression. Typical long-term illnesses in the elderly are Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke.

19% of all deaths by suicide are from depressed elderly individuals.

Elderly patients being treated for significant intensity of depression have approximately 50% higher healthcare costs than non-depressed elderly individuals. The elderly at most risk for depression are those who are on certain medications such as those for hypertension which can have a side effect of depression; those elderly individuals who have other illnesses; those who live alone because they were unmarried or widowed or are otherwise isolated; those who have suffered a recent bereavement; those who suffer from chronic pain; those who have suffered a physical loss (amputation or loss of body part); those who fear death, have a family history of depression or past suicide attempt and those who abuse substances.

Elderly patients being treated with antidepressants may experience side effects and should be counseled by the doctor and or pharmacist so they know what to expect in advance of taking the medication. There may also be reactions with other medications that they are taking. Many pharmacies today are able to track these reactions as long as they are given the correct information regarding all of the medications as well as any herbal therapies that the individual is taking. Antidepressants such as amitriptyline and imipramine can cause a drop in blood pressure or a sedating effect. Antidepressants may also take longer to work in elderly individuals because doctors usually need to start out at a lower dose in order to accommodate medication sensitivities usually occurring in elderly individuals.

Along with medication psychotherapy is usually added to the treatment plan in order for the elderly individual to learn coping mechanisms. Another important aspect of treatment is the growth or establishment of a support system.

Lifestyles in Healthy Aging

Do you sweat the small stuff? Do you find stress has increased in your life due to depressive episodes? Are you searching for a new lifestyle, yet find it difficult to relax and find answers? We have many options in the world, which gives us the convenience of having fun while selecting a better lifestyle. When changing your life style you'll probably have to make decisions that will be hard, yet you can do it if you think about yourself and not others.

Aging for most of us is not something we are looking forward to. Life can go on for many years. In view of the fact, we all need to learn how to relax and take care of ourselves so we can see a brighter future.


We all need to make our life simple. Keeping it simple will help reduce stress. Sometimes we have to give up our long-year running homes where our children were raised. As one ages the stress of preserving, our home increases. Money usually becomes a big issue, which causes stress. The maintenance and taxes alone are very stressful for someone that is living on social security these days.


How to decide:

Do you plan to stay in the same area you live now? Do you prefer to live in a better climate? The questions demand an answer before mortgaging your home. If you plan to move to a better climate to live healthier, consider the climate. Many of us suffer from allergies, hay fever, or other ailments due to climate changes. If you plan to live healthier and reduce, your risks of upper respiratory conditions then consider your options before making a decision to move. You want to consider your budget as well. If you are living a fixed-income, consider the low-cost housing projects.


In your community, you may find housing projects for seniors. If you want to cut back your expenses without moving to another climate, consider these options. You will find housing for seniors however in other areas in the event you choose to move. Many housing projects for the seniors will provide you with links. The links are for your convenience, which includes free meals, cheap transportation and so on. At the buildings, you will likely meet new friends, which makes life more purposeful and fulfilling. Once you've decide where you are going to relocate it takes burden off your mind.

Don't get me wrong there will always be some stress in your life that you will not have control of. Now that you've made one of the biggest decision about where you going to live, start thinking about enjoying life. Join an exercise group or get some neighbors to join you for a walk. Walk on sunny days so your body gets natural vitamin D from the sunrays. The vitamins will help keep your bones strong. Exercising helps keep us fit and is a good way to meet new people while having fun.

Don't forget to watch your diet and make sure your getting enough vitamins to keep yourself healthy. If not sure what vitamins you need and how much consult you physician he can help you make a plan or send you to a dietician to help you with it. Sometimes as we grow older, we don't eat as much, so supplement vitamins are needed. Your family healthcare provider can help you with this too. The world is filled with various lifestyles, so make your life your own by staying healthy and avoid sweating the small stuff. Making sound decisions is a great start to living free, which promotes healthy aging.