Did you know that October is Depression Education and Awareness Month? Did you also know that one of the leading undiagnosed depression conditions in our society is among older adults? In other words, your aging parent.
As the adult child, it’s up to you to recognize when your parent needs more help. Many of us tend to write off “signs” of emotional distress as “Oh, that’s just the way mom (or dad) is getting older.” There are times in any senior’s life when a small change in emotional response is to be expected.
Signs Your Aging Parent is Suffering from Depression
But what about the time when these changes become persistent or long-lasting? Your aging parent may be suffering from clinical depression.
This is where Geras Home Care steps in. We’re not content to accept, “Oh, he’s just having a bad day.” We help people to work through difficult life events and encourage every aspect of the whole person. But first, you have to be able to look through all the clutter and see signs of depression in seniors. We can help you with that.
Depression in older adults often takes on a slightly different face. As family members and caregivers, we need to be on the lookout for depression in seniors because they may not present in ways that we expect.
For starters, the signs of depression may be masked by one or more physical ailments that are not depression-related. Seniors, or family members, may interpret or even communicate depression as more physical in nature.
And it’s not just physical in nature. Seniors often take several different medications to manage other chronic health conditions. Depression can be a common side effect of medication or can be brought on by the other physical ailments.
5 Signs of Depression in Seniors
If you’re aware of the “flavors” of depression in older adults, it will be easier for you to watch for these warning signs in your aging parent.
Look for more specific clues beyond generalized unhappiness or grumpiness. These 5 main categories of behaviors, physical changes, and emotional responses may indicate your parent has a problem with depression.
- Changes in Behavior and Routine
This is typically the change that other family members first notice.
- Social Isolation: Cuts off contact with friends by not calling or canceling regularly scheduled or anticipated activities (bridge club, etc.). They also may isolate themselves when you come to visit.
- Loss of Interest (Anhedonia): A significant drop-off in usual zest or energy for activities they have pursued and enjoyed for years. They no longer seem to want to read, garden, or listen to their favorite music.
- Lack of Self-Care: You notice that they have let their personal hygiene go, don’t want to change their clothes, or refuse to bathe.
- Body Pain and Energy Complaints
Depression in older adults often shows up as physical pain or fatigue.
- Vague or Increased Pains: Recurring complaints of unexplained headaches, back pain, or stomachaches that are not alleviated by over-the-counter medications or remedies.
- Constant Fatigue: Complaints of being “just so tired” or “always so tired” no matter how much rest they get.
- Sleep Issues: Problems with insomnia, or, they’re sleeping much more than usual or getting up hours before they normally would in the morning.
- Eating Changes and Weight Loss or Gain
Unexplained or sudden weight loss or gain can also be a sign of depression. Weight changes may also be extremely dangerous for other health issues in older adults.
- Loss of Appetite: Loss of appetite or a total lack of interest in food (yet not explainable by physical illness, etc.)
- Over-Eating: Although less common with seniors, some use eating as a way to feel better or to “numb” their emotions.
- Skipping Meals: They skip breakfast, lunch, or even dinner on the assumption that they “weren’t hungry.”
- Emotional and Mental Confusion
Depression and early dementia often have overlapping signs. It’s important to be aware of and pay attention to these and other mental health issues.
- Snappiness or Irritability: They seem crankier, more agitated, or angry or irritated at the drop of a hat.
- Fear or Anxiety: Excessive worry or guilty feelings about things that happened in the past.
- Obsessive Concerns: Worrying and talking about money, family, or personal health.
- Forgetfulness or Inability to Focus: Trouble paying attention to you, remembering to go places or do certain things, or difficulty making simple decisions.
- Confusion with Medications
Older adults who are taking several different medications (polypharmacy) are more likely to have depression. It’s possible their depression will present as fatigue or confusion with medications.
Notice if your parent suddenly seems…
- Confused about when to take which medication.
- Averse to taking any of their medications.
Helping an Aging Parent With Depression
If you’ve noticed one or more of these warning signs in your aging parent, the first step is to get them into their primary care provider for a complete evaluation.
Geras Home Care can help your parent and your entire family. We provide support, care, and supervision during one of the most vulnerable and challenging times for your parent.
Help Managing or Recovering from Depression
We’ve helped seniors and their families in many different ways, including:
- Encouragement and Companionship: Our caregivers offer socialization and stimulation to prevent isolation and encourage seniors to engage in hobbies and activities.
- Daily Routine: A healthy daily routine helps to re-establish healthy sleep cycles and restorative sleep. It also includes maintaining regular meal times and a moderate, daily exercise routine.
- Nutrition: Meal planning and preparation with nutrient-dense, health-supportive foods.
- Medication Management: Help with and reminders for medication and other treatments, taken on time and as scheduled, reduces medication-related anxiety and confusion.
- Support for Family Caregivers: Caring for a depressed or struggling parent is not only challenging, it’s exhausting. Give yourself a break and let us care for your parent. Our professional caregivers are reliable, compassionate, and available when you need them.
Geras Home Care will work with you to provide the kind of care you can feel good about for your aging parent and your entire family. As family caregivers ourselves, we understand the challenges and reward of providing care for your loved ones.
Start by simply giving your parent a “once-over” and notice any of the above warning signs. If you notice anything out of the ordinary or different, start with a phone call to your parent’s doctor.
Give Geras Home Care a call to talk about creating an easy, no-obligation, in-home consultation for your parent’s care.