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Everyone experiences some form of depression in his or her lives. It's usually short-lived bouts that go away over time. Long term bouts need to be handled differently. In the elderly there are certain things that may trigger depression. Loss of friends, family, or a spouse can trigger depression. Some elderly people feel that they are past their prime and that there is nothing left in life except to wait to die. Some may have long-term illness or are worried about becoming senile, they start to forget things, which makes them believe that they really are going senile. Some may be depressed because they experienced a stroke or some other sudden debilitating illness.
Elderly people sometimes feel depressed about where they are living. Because a lot of elderly people are on a limited budget, some may not be able to relocate. Over time their homes may be in disrepair, or their neighborhood changed to where it's no longer safe to get around. Sometimes an elderly person begins to feel more vulnerable and unable to protect themselves, so they begin to stay home. Some depressed elderly people are in nursing homes and feel they have been put there to be forgotten. Sometimes family members stop visiting which makes the person sad.
If the person had a history of depression in the past, then that too can be a reason that the person is feeling depressed in later life. Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
There are certain vitamin deficiencies that are common in the elderly that can trigger depression. As people get older, their appetite changes. Some, because they are no longer cooking for a family, will no longer eat like they used to. There are also changes that take place in the digestive tract that can cause them to not absorb all the nutrients from food. Eating high protein foods can help counter this. It's also good to take a vitamin supplement. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol and sweets will help.
A lot of elderly people who suffer from depression often times go untreated. The symptoms of depression in the elderly aren't always as prominent as they are in younger people. Because of this, depression in the elderly has become a major health concern in the elderly. The reason it goes undiagnosed so often is that a lot of health professionals will blame the depression on existing medical problems, or even just that being down is just a part of the aging process. Although sometimes it can be because of those reasons, a lot of times it isn't so the person just lives in a state of misery and sadness. That is why it's so important for professionals and family members to watch for changes in the elderly person's behavior.
Some of the symptoms of depression in the elderly are:
Feeling sadness, depressed or feeling down.
Weight loss
Irritability
Losing interest in life
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Guilty feelings
Suicidal thoughts
Treating depression in the elderly may require medication. Doctors may prescribe anti-depressants and possibly anti-anxiety drugs to alleviate the symptoms of depression. Counseling is good to help the person cope with their situation. Depression is treatable and is something that nobody should ever have to live with in silence.
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