Depression among older adults can be serious and treatable
Everyone gets down in the dumps now and then, but being seriously depressed for an extended period of time ? more than two weeks ? can have devastating consequences for older adults. By recognizing signs of depression, seniors can seek the help they need to overcome the condition and live longer and happier lives.
While not a normal part of aging, depression may be related to various factors commonly associated with getting older, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of independence and function. Having symptoms of depression does not mean a person is weak or has a flawed character. Depression is a medical condition that affects many people and can be significantly improved with treatment.
Depression is more than just ?feeling blue.? While symptoms will vary in severity and duration among different people, experiencing several of the following symptoms for two weeks or longer may signal clinical depression:
Depressive symptoms occur in approximately 20 percent of people over 65 years of age. People who have low incomes and are socially isolated or physically ill are at a higher risk. Older adults are often more likely to think depression will just go away by itself or that they can handle it alone. Depression among seniors often goes undetected because patients do not report their symptoms, and when they do, they are often misinterpreted as symptoms of a different physicalillness.
Chronic depression can take the pleasure out of daily life and aggravate other medical conditions. When overlooked it can lead to suicide. The good news is that clinical depression can be treated successfully in more than 80 percent of all cases, and health insurance and/or Medicare cover most treatments.
If you or someone you know may be suffering from depression, don?t ignore it. Call your family doctor or local health authority.