Elderly people experience loss of connections through death of loved ones more than any other percentage of the population. Also, the elderly are more vulnerable to illnesses and mortality and can face each day with an unsettling uncertainty that could disrupt normal living.It's inevitable, too, that older adults would experience severe grief in the face of major life changes, such as leaving their home of many years for institutional care or simply relocating to a relative's home when it becomes impossible to care for oneself.Loss of independence, separation of a loved one not just by death but also by loss of memory, as in the case of those closely related to dementia patients, becomes unbearable, too, for elders.Where individuals are also afflicted with medical illnesses these become triggers for depression, and often depression will worsen the symptoms of other illnesses.
These illnesses are common causes of late-life depression:Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, cancer, coronary or heart disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, thyroid disordersIt should also be noted that depression can be a side effect of some medications commonly prescribed to older people, like sleep aids, and that depression in the elderly population can be compounded by dependence on substances such as alcohol.These are all significant challenges and, along with socio-economic difficulties and a sense of isolation and displacement, they contribute to depression in older adults.Sadness and grief are normal, temporary reactions to the inevitable losses and hardships of life that all people and more so, elderly people experience. But it's important to recognise and always remember that depression is an illness greater than a period of grief, and more serious than a feeling of sadness. Clinical depression is an equal cause for medical attention like any of the other infirmities that we consider serious or debilitating. Unlike normal sadness, it does not go away by itself and can last for months or even years, if it goes untreated.
Research says that when depression is accurately diagnosed and properly treated, more than 80 per cent of those suffering from it recover and return to their normal lives.But clinical depression always needs professional treatment to reduce duration and intensity of symptoms. Any unresolved depression can affect the body. For example, experts say depression, if left untreated, is a risk for heart disease and can suppress the immune system raising the risk of infection.People have been known also to be unable to come out of their beds or their homes due to the physical and emotional traumas associated with depression.
Biological links
It's a fact that some people become depressed for no obvious reasons. Although there is no single, definitive answer to the question of cause, www.nami.com says many factors–psychological, biological, environmental, and genetic–likely contribute to the development of depression.Scientists think that some people inherit a biological make-up that makes them more prone to depression and that depression tends to run in families with the vulnerability often passed from parents to children.When such a genetic vulnerability exists, other factors like prolonged stress, loss or a major life change can trigger depression.
The most common symptoms of late-life depression include:
�2persistent sadness (lasting two weeks or more)
�2feeling slowed down
�2excessive worries about finances and health problems
�2frequent tearfulness
�2feeling worthless or helpless
�2weight changes
�2pacing and fidgeting
�2difficulty sleeping
�2difficulty concentrating
�2physical symptoms such as pain or gastrointestinal problems
One important sign of depression is when people withdraw from their regular social activities. In emerging scenarios, this involves not just social gatherings but also becoming irresponsive to telephone calls or receding from established social media activity.Another signifier is a negative change in personal hygiene habits and a disregard for one's appearance.Experts say that certain illnesses may hide the symptoms of depression. When a depressed person is preoccupied with physical impact of a stroke, or debilitating arthritis, he or she may attribute the depressive symptoms to an existing physical illness, or may ignore the symptoms entirely.
Where depression is diagnosed treatments prescribed include one or a combination of:
�2antidepressant medications
�2psychotherapy (talk therapy)
�2electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (shock treatments)
Experts all agree that caregivers/family members should be aware of the disability that depression causes and should avoid making depressed people feel guilty by telling them to "get out more" or "pull themselves up by the bootstraps." Families, partners, neighbours, friends and, or caregivers must learn to recognise the symptoms of depression and act to ensure that the elderly in their care or community get the required treatment.