Easy To Use Camera For Elderly

Depression can worsen physical illness and vice versa.(VEER)Depression often looks different in older adults and the elderly than it does in younger people, according to Brent Forester, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.

Older people tend to focus more on physical symptoms and less on emotional ones. Slow speech and a lack of attention to personal appearance may also be tip-offs to depression.

"The classic case is a widowed lady who isn't sleeping well and has lost weight," he says. "And she's not saying she's depressed. Her chief complaint is that she's nervous all the time and worried about her health. Her back hurts, she has headaches and stomach problems."

Depression Isn't a Normal Part of Aging

depressed-senior-woman

All things considered, this population is more resilient than you might think Read moreMore about depression

Treating Depression in the Elderly With Antidepressants
When Sight and Hearing Fail
Barry Jacobs on Careful Caregiving
Online Help for Depressed Elders

Symptoms at a glance

Disturbed mood

Sadness, discouragement, crying
Anxiety, panic attacks, brooding, irritability
Say they feel sad, blue, depressed, low, nothing is fun, down in the dumps

Disturbed perception

Loss of ability to experience pleasure
Withdrawal from usual activities
Feelings of worthlessness
Unreasonable fears
Feelings of guilt, including self reproach for minor failings
Delusions (false fixed beliefs that are characteristic of "psychotic" depression)
Hallucinations (false sensory experiences that characteristic of "psychotic" depression)

Behavioral changes

Increased or decreased body movements (e.g., psychomotor agitation or retardation)
Pacing, wringing their hands, pulling or rubbing their hair, body, or clothing
Sleep disturbance: difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep or especially waking up early
Changes in appetite: usually loss of appetite but sometimes increased appetite
Weight loss or occasionally weight gain
Fatigue, decreased energy
Preoccupation with physical health
Believing they have cancer or some other serious illness when they don't (called somatic delusions)
Difficulty concentrating, thinking or making decisions
Slowed speech, slowed responses with pauses before answering, decreased amounts of speech, low or monotonous tones of voice
Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
Constipation
Unusually fast heart rate

Source: Smith and Buckwalter, "When You Are More Than Just 'Down in the Dumps': Depression in Older Adults" (University of Iowa, 2006)

Symptoms of depression are often a normal reaction to loss in the elderly, says Kathleen Buckwalter, PhD, RN, professor of gerontological nursing research at the University of Iowa. "When older people lose a friend or relative, they cry, they feel sad, they feel lost, and lonely, out of sorts, or like there's no point in going on," she says. They may even lose their appetite, lose weight, and develop insomnia. These are normal responses.

However, if grief triggers severe feelings of worthlessness, psychomotor retardation (slowing of movements and thoughts), psychotic symptoms (delusions or hallucinations), or impairment in their ability to function, it is critical to seek professional mental health help.

Depression masquerades as illness

Symptoms such as extreme fatigue and sluggishness, frequent headaches and stomachaches, and chronic pain can be symptoms of other serious diseases. But they're also common symptoms of depression in older adults.

If you experience these or similar symptoms—or if an older loved one exhibits these symptoms—ask a doctor to test for depression. Other signs of depression include feeling nervous, empty, worthless, irritable, restless, unloved, or uninterested in activities, pursuits, or people you used to enjoy.

Some older people experience dysthymic disorder, sometimes called minor depression. It may be called minor, but as with full-blown depression, it can have a serious impact on your life. Minor depression can also worsen and become full-blown depression.