What You Should Know about Depression Among the Elderly during Suicide Prevention Week
Elderly Care in Scotch Plains NJ
September 5 through 11 is Suicide Prevention Week. This is an important time for you as a family caregiver to understand the risk for depression that your aging parent might face and how this 
depression can negatively impact their life. By recognizing the risks and understanding how your parent might be impacted, you can make meaningful changes to your care efforts to help reduce this risk and encourage your parent to live a quality of life that is happier, healthier, and more fulfilling as they age in place.
Some things that you should know about depression among the elderly during Suicide Prevention Week and throughout the rest of your care journey with them include:
- More than 20 percent of the population of senior adults aged 60 years and older suffer from at least one form of mental health complication
- Just under 7 percent of the total disabilities for the population of older adults is due to neuropsychiatric disorders
- The most common form of mental disorder suffered by elderly adults is depression
- Approximately 25 percent of deaths from self-inflicted causes occur among adults aged 60 years or older
- Over 2 million older adults throughout the United States are currently suffering from depression
There is a common misconception that depression is an issue only of young people, or that depression that occurs in older people is not serious and will not lead to significant issues. This, however, is not the case. Depression is prevalent among elderly adults and can lead to devastating consequences. There are many causes of depression among elderly adults, including a sense of isolation and loneliness that comes from not getting as much social interaction as they did when they were younger, loss of friends and family members to death, and suffering of illness and conditions that reduce their functioning and quality of life. Understanding this can make it easier for you to detect if your parent might be suffering from depression. It is important to remember that the symptoms of depression can be easily overlooked in older adults, and many seniors will not openly discuss the concept of depression because they do not feel as though it is a serious issue, or because they can link it to a life event they do not feel that it is “real” depression. This makes it vital for you to pay close attention to your loved one’s health and wellbeing, and being to their doctor’s attention any marked changes in their abilities, behavior, or personality.
If you are concerned that your elderly parent might be suffering from depression, now may be the time for you to consider elder care for them. An elderly home care services provider can provide valuable social interaction, companionship, and support that can help to break through depression and reduce the risk that your parent will develop depression or suffer worsened symptoms. This can include sharing conversation, enjoying hobbies and activities together, supporting a greater sense of independence and autonomy, and even providing reliable transportation so that your parent can get out into the world around them and engage more often.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional elderly care in Scotch Plains, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
Sources:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs381/en/
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-older-adults-more-facts
http://www.cdc.gov/aging/mentalhealth/depression.htm
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