What Are The Symptoms Of Depression In Older Adults And How To Help Them

Introduction

The number of people living with mental health conditions is significant, but when the condition is depression, there are two particular populations that are disproportionately affected: older adults.

Depression in older adults can be more difficult for sufferers to overcome because it usually takes time for them to form social connections, which may not have as much opportunity to happen given their age. The lack of social contact can lead to even more symptoms such as increased isolation and dependence on prescription drugs.

Older adults often do not seek help for depression because they think treatment won’t change anything or will make them worse off. Additionally, the sensitivity to medication and the inability to diagnose depression is often overlooked in older adults because of their age, advanced medical conditions, side effects from medications and other conditions such as dementia.

Older adults are more susceptible to developing depression because bereavement is a common cause of depression in older adults. The loss of a close friend or family member will affect an individual differently depending on their age and life experiences.

Healthcare providers should be aware that assessing suicidal risk in older people is difficult due to their self-neglect, advanced medical issues and medications that may interfere with a diagnosis or score.

The family’s social support system has been shown to affect the depressive symptoms of older individuals. There is not a strong relationship between being a caregiver and the development of depression unless the caregiver is involved in the person’s life more frequently. Older adults who have a spouse or close family members to depend on have been shown to have lower levels of depression.

Depression Symptoms In Older Adults

Depression symptoms are often similar in younger and older adults. There are, however, several symptoms that are unique to older adults that can often be overlooked or mistaken for physical ailments. Some common depression symptoms include: 

1. Apathy

A lack of motivation and drive for activities that were once enjoyed. The elderly are likely to have more of these symptoms, as they are often tired or not feeling well.

2. Social Withdrawal

Withdrawal from social activities and contact with others, instead spending most of their time alone. This can be due to a loss of interest or inability to communicate or relate to other people.

3. Anxiety

A common symptom of depression in older adults is anxiety and feelings of being on edge, having trouble sleeping, pacing and irritability. This is mainly because anxiety is part of the depressive cycle of thoughts that cause stress and unpleasant emotions that cause further anxiety which leads to avoidance and anhedonia (lack of motivation) which leads back into depression.

4. Loss Of Appetite

Loss of appetite is another common symptom of depression in older adults. If a person loses their appetite, it can lead to weight loss and changes in their eating habits which often leads to further symptoms such as increased anxiety.

5. Changes In Sleeping & Napping Patterns

Changes in sleeping patterns are often linked to fatigue and low energy levels, especially if the individual has difficulty getting to sleep or wakes up too early or too late. Changes in napping patterns can also be related to fatigue and low energy levels. The individual may nap more than usual or need less sleep than they normally would without a reason behind them.

6. Disturbed Thinking

Disturbed thinking is a singular gesture or an act carried out to relieve feelings of guilt, self-blame or helplessness. The individual may also feel worthless and see no future in their life or in the lives of their loved ones.

7. Concentration Problems

Difficulty concentrating can be linked to depression and anxiety because it is part of the depressive cycle of thoughts that cause stress, unpleasant emotions and anxious feelings which leads to avoidance which leads back into depression. 

How To Help Older Adults With Depression

1. Create A Support System

An individual’s family and friends can be very beneficial in helping that person fight against depression. By providing them with social support, it shows your understanding of the situation that they may be going through without making any assumptions or trying to change how they feel. Don’t try to convince them to do something or not do something because this could make their condition worsen. Offer your help and have them on your side so you can work together to get through their depression.

2. Get Help

There are many different resources available for people dealing with depression. There are doctors, therapists and support systems in place for those dealing with depression, but finding the right person for the individual can be difficult. It may be necessary to sit down together and figure out what works best for that person.

3. Be Patient

Not everyone who is depressed will have the same symptoms, so the person may not show the same things you are experiencing. To be successful in helping an older adult overcome their depression, it is important to be patient and wait for them to open up about their situation. On occasion, it may take a long time for them to get over their depression because of their age and other medical conditions that may be involved. If you are expecting them to immediately snap out of their depression when you help them, they may not care as much and this could worsen their condition rather than improve it.

4. Don’t Rush It

When helping a loved one make sure you don’t rush into it because this may make their condition worse if they don’t feel like you understand what they are going through or if they feel like they can’t trust you with their issues. 

5. Ask The Right Questions

When getting help for an individual it may be necessary to ask the right questions to give them the tools they need to overcome their depression. Be careful when asking questions though because you don’t want to ask something that you might not want to hear or you will hurt their feelings. Be sure to ask if this is a good time and make sure they are comfortable talking about their situation because if they are not, it could worsen their condition.

Conclusion

Although depression is not uncommon in the elderly, there are ways to help them overcome it. It is important to note that depression can be treated successfully with psychiatric treatment and medication, but this could worsen their physical health. Support systems and social interactions can help relieve some of the symptoms of depression, as well as reduce stress and anxiety in an individual’s life which can be linked to the development of certain diseases such as heart disease.

Seniors are more at risk for developing major depressive disorder than they are for other mental disorders. Some of the risks may include: genetics, family history and upbringing, stressful life events, medical conditions and medications.