Depression and the Elderly

Article submitted by Daybreak Behavioral Health Services. They can be contacted at 228-809-2273

Diane is a caregiver to her 70-year old mother, Lily, who lives with them. Diane and her husband also care for their two young children. As you can imagine, this creates a very hectic schedule. Like many caregivers, Diane tries to fulfill a number of roles. She is a mother, daughter, wife and employee just to name a few.

Diane sometimes forgets that she, also, has needs. Lately, Diane has noticed that her mother has been staying to herself and not talking. Her mother usually gets up at 7 AM and has coffee but has been staying in bed until 9 or 10 AM. Diane's mother had a heart attack three years ago and a light stroke one year ago. She recovered well from the heart attack and stroke, but is not very steady on her feet. She can take her medications most of the time but needs some help because she has to take so many. Diane and her husband hired a sitter to help Lily during the day when no one is at home. The sitter has commented that Lily is not eating all of her meals and Diane has noticed that her mother has started skipping dinner. Diane has found her mother crying in the middle of the night several times the last couple of weeks. Diane's mother has been talking about missing her deceased husband lately and has made the statement, "I don't know why I am still here, nobody has time for me anyway". Diane doesn't know what to do about these changes in her mother and feels powerless to help. The stress has even caused problems in her marriage and she has been arguing more with her husband.

Depression shows itself in many ways, a few which are portrayed in this scenario. Certain behavior, which in the past was attributed to "just getting old," is a sign of depression which can be successfully treated. Maintaining mental health is as important as maintaining physical health. If a family member needs help in these stressful times, seek advice and assistance. There are many resources available for the elderly, and many providers of mental health services offer cost-free assessments. Furthermore, if you are a caregiver like Diane, support groups are available to help you through these difficult experiences.