by: Melanie Farley
Mental Health Awareness Week, World Mental Health Day, and National Depression and Health Screening Month are all happening in October. That makes this month a perfect time to educate and provide mental health support for seniors.
More than 2 million Americans aged 65 and older suffer from depression. So, in this article, we’ll cover the risk factors and symptoms so your senior can get treatment early.
Read on to learn more!
Risk Factors for Depression in Older Adults
First, it’s important to understand that depression is a mood disorder and not a normal part of the aging process. Here are a few risk factors for depression in older adults:
- Social isolation and loneliness – Everyone needs social connections to thrive, but as people age, they tend to spend more time alone, increasing the risk of depression. That’s why regular socializing is essential to happy, healthy aging.
- Lack of exercise and physical activities – As we age, functional limitations can reduce our movement, but exercise releases endorphins which improves mood and is essential to mental health. Try working with a physical therapist to incorporate gentle movement into your senior’s daily routine and improve mood.
Other risk factors include:
- Family history
- Mental decline due to dementia
- Side effects from medication
Symptoms of Depression in Seniors
How do you know if your beloved senior is experiencing depression? Depression can look a little different as we age. For example, many seniors will not report feeling sad as the main symptom. Instead, they might report feeling numb, or feeling a lack of interest in activities that used to bring them joy.
Everyone experiences depression differently, but here are a few symptoms to look out for:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Irritability, restlessness
- Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Slower movements and speech
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, waking up too early in the morning, or oversleeping
- Eating more or less than usual, usually with unplanned weight gain or loss
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
If you notice any of these symptoms in your senior, it is important to seek mental health care right away. Here are some helpful mental health resources available to PA residents.
A Final Word…
Mental healthcare is essential to healthy aging. Since conditions like depression might look a little different in seniors, it is extra important to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms. Also, remember to do what you can to reduce risk factors for depression in your senior loved one. Regularly socialize with your senior loved ones and encourage gentle exercise to reduce risks for serious mental illness.
Would your senior loved one benefit from expert adult day care in a warm, welcoming environment? The healthcare professionals at Northeast Adult Day Care can provide skilled care, monitoring, and social interaction for your loved one! Reach out to learn more, [email protected].