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• Causes and Symptoms for Elderly Depression
  Anticonvulsants such as Celontin and Zarontin that are used to control epileptic seizures can also lead to symptoms of depression. Certain central nervous system depressants that are use dto treat insomnia or anxiety or are used as a muscle relaxer can also cause depression such as Benzodiazepine, Ativan, Dalman, Halcion, Klonopin, Librium, Valium and Xanax. Another group of central nervous system depressants an actually slow down brain function, called barbiturates such as phenobarbital and secobarbital can lead to depression symptoms. Parlodel a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease has also been shown to increase the chance for depression in elderly. Other medications that may also increase the risk for depression in the elderly individual are estrogens such as premarin and prempro or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Cipro and Floxin and narcotics used to treat pain.
  
  
  • Depression And Elderly Care
    Lifestyle changes are not the only cause for depression in the elderly individual. There are other causes for depression in the elderly including isolation or lonliness, health issues that are long-term or sudden, medications can also trigger mood changes or have side effects that may trigger depression. Other emotional triggers for depression in the elderly are that they may feel a reduced sense of purpose following retirement, or they may have a increased amount of daily fear due to a terminal illness and the fear of dying that is a natural part of the process. The elderly tend to experience a greater occurrence of bereavement from the loss of friends, family members, pets and spouse through death. The elderly tend decrease in financial status as they age which increases their fear level over losing their home, not having money to pay bills, or buy medications or food.
    
    
  • Depression In The Elderly Goes Hand In Hand With Disease
    Risk factors for depression besides age are: certain medications that can cause depression, being isolated such as those who live alone, experiencing a recent death of someone close to or of the same age, the presence of a chronic disease or having pain from disease or an injury that is constant or severe, physical damage to the body such as a loss of a limb or heart attack, fear of dying, family history or a previous history of depression, substance abuse (drug or alcohol). These risk factors should be kept in mind when dealing with an elderly person who is ill.
    
    
  • Elderly Depression Studies
    The study seems to conclude based on the data collected that intepersonal therapy alone does not have as much effect on the person 70 years of age or older as receiving paroxetine in combination with therapy. The study also revealed that their hypothesis which was a prediction that interpersonal therapy would significantly reduce rates of recurrence, interpersonal therapy did not show to be as effective in individuals in the study (70 and older). It was surmised that perhaps this particular group of individuals (70 and older) would respond better to a more structured type of psychotherapy that would encompass cognitive impairment, problem solving and would also involve the caregivers who could add to the support during therapy.
    
    
  • Helping The Elderly Combat Depression
    Seniors need to have not only support for daily tasks and transportation but also to stay active physically and mentally. Exercise is an important way to combat depression in any age group but the elderly tend to have physical restrictions that limit the choices when it comes to exercise. Physicians can offer advise and may even refer the individual to physical therapy where they can learn what safe exercises to do in order to stay healthy physically and mentally.
    
    
  • Is This Elderly Depression
    Having a support system around can speed up the process of diagnosis, and treatment because family members, friends and hired help are more likely to assist the individual in arriving at a diagnosis and treatment. Answering the question, “Is this elderly depression”, will depend on the circumstances, the individual themselves and on how obvious the symptoms are. Some elderly individuals will try to mask the symptoms out of fear or shame. Finding out if a loved one is suffering from depression can save that person’s life.
    
    
  • Treating The Elderly For Depression
    The most effective treatment is usually a combination of methods including medications, psychotherapy, and community support. Each treatment plan must be devised on an individual basis and will address all issues physical, mental and emotional that the patient is experiencing. Length of depression, severity and whether this is the first episode or not along with family history, personal history and other illnesses will be taken into consideration when a treatment plan is devised. The treatment plan is usually drawn up with the patient’s input and possibly other family members if they are caregivers.
    
    
  • What Makes Depression Different In the Elderly
    Depression in the elderly differs from depression in youth or middle age in that although it is not normally a part of aging as we age we experience more of the situations and events that can trigger depression. We experience more loss as we age. We are exposed to greater risks for financial stress, job-related loss, health issues that are long term or terminal. At the same time that the elderly at experiencing these increased chances for depression triggers they might also be experiencing a decrease in their support systems as adult children move away, friends and peers move away or die.
    
    
  • What To Do For An Elderly Depressed Individual
    The depressed elderly individual needs a support system in place to address the various needs both physical and emotional including health care (getting to and from appt., included), daily living tasks like meals, laundry, shopping, housework, lawn care, pet care etc., that can be challenging and upsetting to someone who is faced with limited mobility or decreased physical function. As we age the family support often disappears as children become adults and move away, or adult friends and spouses die it can be difficult for an elderly person to replace these individuals in their life and often times they do not seek other human contact when loss occurs. The community may offer support services like meals on wheels, social activities, counseling etc., but often it is left up to the elderly to seek out these services
    
    
  • Treating Depression by Addressing What Stresses the Elderly
    Treatment should address all of the symptoms including physical, mental and emotional symptoms. If the underlying cause is not addressed during the treatment plan than the depression is likely to resurface at a later date when medication or therapy is stopped and the cause is still present in the life of the elderly individual. Interpersonal therapy can address the psychological and personality factors that may exist so that support systems can be put into place to continue on a regular basis even after medication maintenance is stopped.