Signs of depression in senior citizens

What are common symptoms of depression? How to help seniors fight depression? WebMD explains the signs of depression in your aging loved one and different treatment options.

Geriatric depression is a mental and emotional disorder affecting older adults. Feelings of sadness and occasional blue” moods are normal.

However, lasting depression is not a typical part of. Since seasonal depression is very much a form of depression and not merely a bad moo it can be treated with antidepressant medications. Although many seniors, as well as their caregivers and even doctors, might be hesitant to add yet one more drug to their daily routine, antidepressants might.

Why all the depression? Irritability and drastic changes in mood are just a few of the signs of bipolar disorder in the elderly. When looking for signs that your senior may be suffering from bipolar disorder, you must look for the symptoms of the manic and depression phases.

Some Senior Citizens exhibit unusual signs of fatigue or sadness. They may also have limited interest in the holiday festivities.

Depression in Seniors is a serious issue that should not be overlooked. It’s not always clear what causes depression in Senior Citizens. For some, it’s due to loneliness around the holidays.

They may have other, less obvious symptoms of depression, or they may not be willing to talk about their feelings. Depression, however, is feeling consistently sa discouraged and lacking self-worth for a prolonged period. Some people experience depression for the first time (called late onset) in their senior years, while others have struggled with it for years. Depression, though, is not a normal part of aging even though it may feel like it.

A decline in social participation or a loss of interest in activities is clear warning signs that something is wrong. Although it may be due to fatigue or not feeling well, a continued shift in their activities is often a sign of depression. The Memory Quiz Was Developed By Dr Gary Small of the UCLA Longevity Center.

Talk to someone now: text us for confidential support. It is not uncommon for senior citizens to become depresse and there are distinct ways to tell when someone you know is struggling with this condition. It is important when first noticing the signs and symptoms to address the issue immediately. Do you know the signs ? Old age and disease can be attributed to many of the symptoms of depression in seniors. This can make it more difficult for both doctors and loved ones to realize when a senior is depressed.

The clinical presentation of late-life depression tends to differ from that experienced by depressive disorders in younger age groups and can cause significant impairment in older adults.

Although particular symptoms can vary by individual, there are a handful of common symptoms typically seen in senior citizens struggling with seasonal depression. The most apparent signs will include a lack of energy, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, general irritability, and a loss of interest in hobbies and socialising. Six and a half million adults and older suffer from depression , according to the National Alliance on Mental Health.

I am a senior , but an active one and now I watch carefully for signs of returning depression. This might include shortness of breath, depression , or sensory impairments. You’d think it would be easy to detect depression in an older person — after all, many signs of sadness, including tears and lethargy, are visible.

But depression , like many other ailments, often manifests differently in the elderly compared with younger people.