Growing older comes with many wonderful benefits. We gain wisdom from life experiences and see our loved ones blossom, but aging also comes with its drawbacks. One such drawback for many seniors is the increased prospect of depression.
The unfortunate fact is that older adults have an increased likelihood of experiencing depression symptoms when compared to the rest of the population. Per the most recent data, approximately 20% of people over 65 years of age experience these symptoms.
According to the CDC, the risk increases for those who require home care. The CDC also says that depression is more common in people who have other chronic health conditions, which is the case for about 80% of older adults.
Yet another troubling fact, according to experts, is that healthcare providers often mistake an older adult’s symptoms of depression as a natural response to illness or life changes that occur with aging, and therefore, do not see the depression as something to be treated. Plus, older adults themselves often do the same thing as their health care providers and fail to seek help, not understanding that treatment could help them feel better.
On top of everything else, simply experiencing depression symptoms actually increases the risk of cardiac disease among seniors. And the recovery time for those with age-related illnesses is much longer when combined with depression, making it much less likely for recovery at all.
The source of depression can range from anything from chronic health problems and physical and mental decline to loneliness and a lessened sense of purpose. Recognizing signs of depression is vital for seniors because it allows them to seek the help required to overcome this condition and have longer, happier and healthier lives.
Symptoms vary among different people, but experiencing one or more of following symptoms for two weeks or longer may be a sign of clinical depression:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety or “empty” feeling
- Lack of or too much sleep
- Lack of or too much appetite
- Excess weight loss or weight gain
- Loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities (e.g. social interactions, hobbies and sex)
- Increased restlessness and irritability
- Persistent headaches, chronic pain or digestive disorders
- Problems with concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feels of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness
- Thoughts of suicide and/or death
If you think you or someone you know may be experiencing these symptoms, please seek help immediately from a qualified medical professional. It’s important to know that depression among seniors is treated successfully every day. This condition is too big to deal with on your own, so please find some help.