7 Ways To Help A Depressed Elder

It was just the other day that we were discussing depression issues of elders at home; they complained of old age, weakness, and disinclination to do anything positive in their lives. They also complained of life not being worth living; they refused help when we wished to help them. Our main concern was how we could protect our elders from depression. 

Ways to help a depressed elder:

1) Depression is not normal stress or bereavement, but a mental condition that requires a shoulder to cry on. The first thing that we could do is to note symptoms like not eating well and losing  interest in certain activities over a period of time.

2) Some elders get depressed after a loss or any upsetting incident; elders have suffered a lot in life and so have less coping skills than the young. It would however help to ask the elders what they feel specifically about the object of trouble; listening carefully and empathically to them would help give them direct support and comfort.

3) It is quite characteristic for elders to deny that they are sad or lonely because they do not want to be a burden on the family. It would be smart to note other signs of distress like excessively wringing their hands, having difficulty in sitting still and getting  generally agitated or irritable. 

4) I do agree that it is difficult to make a person that says he is not depressed to cooperate for treatment; certain psychiatrists say that it pays to listen carefully to what has changed in their life. Using words like depression, drugs or therapy may just make them try to cover themselves up; it pays to address the issue of how he/she can get sound and good sleep when they complain of sleeplessness.

5) Even if the elder does not buy the idea that he is depressed, family members need to be aware of what this disease can cause. Dealing with these elders can be tough; you have to not make them feel guilty by asking them to be active. It is significant that some are very sick to even get out of bed.

     
6) Depression is a disease, not a disability; it is best to not help elders in things that they can do by themselves as we would soon make it a disability.

7) You could help your elders a lot by trying to participate in medical care; geriatric psychiatrists are prohibited from disclosing information to the patient’s family without their permission. So  doctors may not be able to reveal certain information; however the family could help their elder by calling the doctors and letting them know all the things that they have observed in the elder.

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