Senior Citizen Depression: Does it Affect you in any Way?
Senior Citizen Depression: Does it Affect you in any Way?
By Charles L Harmon
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A lot of times when we think of depression we are thinking of someone who is sick. It doesn’t seem like they are sick when you see many, mostly senior citizens, who are suffering with depression. Regardless a common “cure” is to give someone with depression some strong drugs to help control their minds. That’s not really a cure, but is my way of emphasizing it is more of a problem than we might normally think of.
You may not be a senior citizen, but maybe your parent (s) or older friends are and may be living in some place other than their home or even in their home alone. In either case they may be depressed if you don’t visit them or show an interest in them. It may be hard for you, with being busy and having your own life, but you should make some time to visit, talk, and go out with them, if practical. That will definitely help reduce any depression they may have.
Many senior citizens today may be living alone, living in a nursing home or assisted living facility or living with family members. There can be a deep sense of hurt inside by not being contacted by one’s children or grandchildren and feeling useless. Being on a fixed income often makes daily living difficult. Many seniors have worries about covering prescription costs. Many also have apprehensions about their daily expenses.
Part of senior citizen depression can include watching the passing of friends and seeing one’s own health limitations increasing. Having a good support system is helpful and many seniors are not in a situation where they see others due to mobility and transportation issues.
Some seniors who have become comfortable with the internet have been able to connect with others via e-mail and join groups as well as chat with their grandchildren. This is something you may want to teach an elderly family member so they can feel less isolated and connect with others. It will help reduce depression by giving them something constructive to do.
I have seen instances of those in their senior years even venturing into internet marketing or otherwise selling information and products online. If you are a senior with no mental disabilities it might be something to look into. Being on the computer normally could be a problem for younger folk since it can be a big time waster. However if you’re a senior and retired with lots of time the computer can easily solve that and in some cases make you some money too if you are willing to work at it.
If you’re a senior citizen it is always good to have an evaluation made by a physician to check on one’s thyroid level and see if depression may be the result of an under or too active thyroid condition. Studying the side effects of medications can also be useful to see if they may be contributing to a senior citizen’s depressive mood. If there are sleep difficulties then one’s daily energy will be low and this is something to discuss with one’s physician. Certain medications may keep you up if taken after dinner.
If you are a senior and are not taking some sort of medicine for depression, count yourself as lucky. Unfortunately some of the depression drugs are exceptionally strong or the doses recommended are high and I have seen many where their mind is adversely affected in various ways. My wife runs a small RCFE (Residential Care Facility For the Elderly) and we see these problems on a daily basis. It’s not a good sight. Maybe you have no choice if you have severe depression, but my suggestion is not to voluntarily ask for any drugs to handle depression if you don’t really need it. Let your doctor make that decision.
As a senior citizen, try to look at some of your interests from when you were younger. Some of the activities you may be unable to pursue now, but there may be some that you can renew again. If you had a creative side you can look into writing, drawing or creating music.
Photography is also an area that many senior citizens enjoy and feel proud of when viewing their pictures. Due to digital photography these can be uploaded and e-mailed to one’s family members as well. Take some time to explore and write down things you either have done in the past as well as those you’ve wished you’d have time to do.
Now may be that time in your life you can finally pursue these activities. Even if you need to modify them due to the aging process, don’t let that deter you from exploring them and finding a new fulfilling area in your life. Through family and other support, if needed, as well as new interests, a senior’s day can have some fulfilling areas that continue to renew a their energy.
If you’re a son or daughter, or other person that has their parents or loved one in a convalescent home, Nursing home, or an RCFE, you can reduce their level of depression by visiting them on a regular basis. It feels good to be loved as we all know, and I’m sure it’s even more important if your senior citizen is living away from home through no choice of their own.
Copyright © Charles Harmon
Charles is a software developer. He is also interested in making money online. As a sports car enthusiast Charles is thinking of getting new hot rims for his Corvette. He has been researching Internet Marketing and has a found some real money saving and money making information products and services. He is now working on this new site for online dating information.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:40 am
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