Depression is very common in older adults and it can be a result of many varying factors such as aging, hormonal changes and even the medications they take. Unfortunately, signs of depression in a senior are often overlooked by their health care providers since depression’s symptoms are very similar to those of many diseases and illnesses that affect a senior’s body. Apparently, depression is the last thing a physician will explore when it comes to a senior’s health care.
Consider this, if you have just given birth and you are currently experiencing abnormal behavioral patterns such as fatigue and lack of appetite, your doctor would probably explore first the possibility of postnatal depression before anything else just because it is a natural occurrence during this phase. After ruling depression out, that is the only time they will look over other causes that might be leading to the problem in question. On a senior’s case, they will prioritize lifestyle diseases and chronic illnesses first; before they even get to look at depression, they are probably knee-deep with what your body has therefore, depression is left alone, sneaking on a senior’s quality of life like a thief.
We couldn’t blame doctors for this; we all know they should prioritize life-threatening diseases first before anything else. Depression is not among those diseases as it takes time before it finally blows up. However, what we can do is spot depression signs at once and submit yourself for evaluation; insist if you must, to be treated first for depression before delving into other possibilities.
An elder person with depression would not readily accept the fact that he or she is experiencing one; he may not even realize that at once. A younger person’s reaction to depression is very different from that of a senior’s. While a younger adult will express mood swings in a more distinguishable manner, an older adult will most likely keep to himself making it harder for his family and friends to identify sings of depression.
A senior would most likely be experiencing depression when:
· Small or no appetite at all.
· Fatigue and exhaustion.
· Finds it hard to concentrate or remember important things.
· Silent and withdrawn even in company of close family and friends.
· Keeps social interaction at a minimum.
As you can see, these depression symptoms are fairly similar to those of Alzheimer’s, cancer and thyroid disorders. It is important to be very observant of these changes especially for the senior’s caregiver. The caregiver must be able to see through the signs and be able to conclude fairly well by keeping an open mind on things. Seniors are most vulnerable if they have just experienced life-changing events such as loss of a loved-one especially if it’s the spouse or partner. Depression can also set in if the senior feels frustrated due to limited range of motion or memory loss. This is also true for seniors experiencing chronic pain.
