My Elderly Parents: Identifying Depression

It is estimated that 15-25% of the 65+ population suffers from some form of depression whether it is short-lived or long-term with higher percentages among those living alone or in a nursing home. There appears to be some difficulty diagnosing depression because symptoms can also be associated with some medical illness or side effects of certain medications.

Following is a partial list of symptoms which may indicate depression: Weight loss, Insomnia, Agitation and anxiety, Fatigue-loss of energy, Isolation, Decline in personal hygiene, Hypochondriac fears, Feelings of loss of self esteem, Confusion, Memory problems. There are many social factors which contribute to depression among the elderly and may also keep them from getting the help they need.

1) The elderly are afraid to talk about the confusion and memory loss because they think it might be Alzheimers.

2) It may be difficult to draw the line between what is depression and what is sadness from a loss or disappointment.

3) Loss related to age (family, friends, physical abilities, home, social status, appearance) is a strong contributing factor.

4) Depression may be worsened by poor diet, poor health, and lack of exercise, light, money & socializing.

As adult children it is not always easy to know how our elderly parents are really feeling and their daily lives may be quite different from what we hear during our daily telephone call. They may be experiencing many of the symptoms related above and either do not recognize it or dont want to burden you with their problems. Perhaps they look forward to your daily call as the bright spot in their day which may relieve their feelings of isolation (see 4 above).

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) short or long form, from http://www.healthyplace.com, will be helpful if depression may be an issue with your elderly parent. Obtaining an honest assessment of your parents mental health is of paramount importance and will assist you both in determining the next step.

Joanne Robbins has published several articles on a variety of topics and is involved with numerous projects including Boomer-Gear Essentials at http://boomer-gear.com Dealing with our parents as adult children is an extremely important and challenging topic. For more information on My Elderly Parents contact Robbins at boomergear@yahoo.com

Medical Aging Services - Caring for Your Elderly Parents
It is not always easy to care for our aging parents at home. Yes, we all want to be with our parents during their twilight ye...

My Elderly Parents: Vision Loss
Very few of us are surprised that our eyesight may deteriorate over time and will correct our vision easily enough with conta...

Finding A Caregiver For Your Elderly Parent Or Other Family Member - Knowing What Questions To Ask
As our population ages, caring for the elderly becomes a bigger and bigger dilemma. Many baby boomers are now faced with cari...

My Elderly Parents: In Home Care
If we ask our elderly parents about their preferences for living arrangements, it comes as no surprise that many would like t...

A Medical Alert System Is A Lifeline For The Elderly Generation
One of the most well-known medical alert systems available today is "Lifeline." If you have elderly parents and are the sole...

My Elderly Parents: Medication Safety
Medication safety is an extremely important part of your parents daily lives and you would be wise to review their medication...

Home and Respite Care for Elderly People
Home and respite care for elderly people are two different things, but each enables an elderly person to live comfortably in ...

Planning for Parent Care Or Spur of the Moment Elder Care Decisions - You Decide
When our family members are well, we usually do not think about what may happen in the future. As baby boomers age, they will...

My Elderly Parents: Medical Alert Systems
Even while our parents are still living independently in their home without aid of caregivers it may be helpful to investigat...

Is Your Elderly Parent Visiting the Dentist?
Did you know that elderly adults are at greater risk for oral cancer than younger people? In fact, research states that those...

The Six Tips for Creating a Great Parent Newsletter
Every daycare needs a way of communicating to their parents and a newsletter is a great way of sharing important information....

Elder Care Homes
Elder care encompasses the decision-making process of moving the elderly from the home environment to a residential care sett...

My Elderly Parents: Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is very common and affects 30-40% of those between the age of 40 and 60 and more than 50% of those 60 years and ...

Dealing with Aging Parents
During the last century the number of Americans living beyond age 65 has doubled. This astounding increase in seniors is star...

The Elderly - A Distinctive Segment of the American Population
No longer seen as a minority, as a category of Americans, however the elderly do face social and economic disadvantages. But ...

Community Elder Care
Community elder care helps to highlight elder care issues in the community and solve the problems faced by elderly people. It...

Senior Home Care Services: Weighing The Decision
There are problems that can occur among the elderly, many of which are often overwhelming to family and other loved ones. Th...

Collecting Depression Glass - Where to Start
Okay, so youve been bitten by the Depression Glass bug, and those pretty patterns and pastel colors beckon you from the she...

Home Care
Home care services provide valuable assistance for the elderly in the comfort of their own homes. Though home care assures th...

The Difficulties in Taking Care of the Elderly
Most families try to care for their elderly relatives but it poses a hardship on them. If they are having problems walking, ...