Older adults have to face painful losses such as their spouse, friends or their own independence or health. Grief over these loses is normal but it can also lead to long-lasting depression, especially for those without a strong support system.

Depression is common among the elderly but only a small percentage get the help they need. Depression doesn’t have to be a necessary part of the aging process. Senior citizens can have happy, full lives despite difficult changes. While many depressed seniors may be reluctant to talk about what they are going through or ask for help, you can learn to spot the signs of depression and insure your loved ones’ health – mentally, physically and emotionally.

The major signs of depression in seniors include:

-       Sadness

-       Fatigue

-       Losing interest in hobbies or pastimes

-       Reluctance to leave the house or spend time with friends

-       Weight loss

-       Sleeping too much or too little

-       Feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing

-       Increased use of alcohol or drugs

-       Fixation on death; suicidal thoughts or attempts

However, some depressed seniors will say they don’t feel sad at all. In fact, physical complaints such as arthritis pain, tiredness or headaches are often symptoms of depression in the elderly. If your loved one exhibits these clues, they may be depressed even if they don’t feel sad:

-       Unexplained aches and pains

-       Hopelessness

-       Helplessness

-       Anxiety and worry

-       Irritability

-       Lack of interest in personal care (skipping meals, forgetting medications, neglecting personal hygiene)

If you feel the senior you love is depressed, it can be difficult to discuss with them. Some older adults don’t believe depression is a real illness or are too embarrassed to ask for help, as they were raised in a time when mental illness was misunderstood.

However, you can make a difference just by offering emotional support. Listen to your loved one with patience and compassion. Don’t criticize feelings expressed, but point out realities and offer hope. You can also help by seeing that they get and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Help your loved one find a good doctor, accompany him or her to appointments, and offer moral support.

Warman Home Care providers can provide your elderly loved one with much-needed companionship. Even if your loved ones are independent, an attentive caregiver to encourage them to get out of the house and do the things they enjoy can transform their quality of life. Learn more about our experienced team of in-home caregivers.

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Because of the health issues that accompany increasing age, it can be difficult to tell which conditions result from the normal process of aging and which result from illness. The following diseases are not necessarily common, but their symptoms are often nonspecific, making them difficult to diagnose in elderly populations.

Mesothelioma

This deadly cancer is nearly always linked with exposure to asbestos, a fibrous mineral once used heavily in the construction and shipbuilding industries. However, mesothelioma symptoms can take from 20 to 50 years after exposure to appear, so the average mesothelioma patient is in his (it affects far more men than women) seventies. Symptoms of mesothelioma, especially early on, can also mimic those of other, less serious lung conditions, allowing the disease to go undiagnosed until the later stages. Anyone who has worked in these industries or specifically with asbestos should have their lungs examined for signs of mesothelioma or other lung conditions.

Allergies

It is possible for an elderly adult to develop new allergies. The prevailing theory for this occurrence is the “lifetime load theory,” which states that many years of exposure to allergens like pollen, dust, and mold can eventually overload the immune system, causing new allergic sensitivities. While allergies that develop at this stage of life are rarely fatal, they can interfere with quality of life. Allergy shots are a potential treatment, but need to be carefully considered in light of an elderly patient’s other health issues or medications.

Hypothyroidism

This condition, a shortage of thyroid hormone, is most commonly caused by iodine deficiency, but can also be a result of other problems with the thyroid gland or genetic factors.  Common early signs include weight gain, fatigue, poor muscle tone, and low heart rate. This disease is more prevalent in the elderly, but nonspecific or even absent symptoms can make it difficult to distinguish from signs of aging.  Up to 15% of elderly patients in primary care show at least some signs of hypothyroidism.

Celiac Disease

Though celiac disease is often thought of as something that babies have, then outgrow, research suggests that it can also develop in middle-aged and elderly adults. Troublingly, in one study only 25% of the elderly patients with this disease, which affects the absorption of nutrients by the small intestine, displayed any symptoms at all, while still incurring the intestinal damage it causes. The good news is that, though celiac disease is correlated with higher levels of osteoporosis and hypothyroidism, it does not seem to increase rate of death.

Mental Illness

With so much focus on the health of the body, both doctors and patients alike can sometimes neglect the health of the mind.  A study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reported that 17% of the 300 elderly hospital patients surveyed showed signs of undiagnosed depression. Those with depression were also far more likely to be readmitted to the hospital with other conditions. Ill health, lack of exercise, and little social activity are risk factors for depression in the elderly, many of whom are unaware of the symptoms.

Guest contributor: Jason Abraham, aspiring writer and a health and safety advocate from Southeast.

Not too long ago, the only options for seniors with deteriorating physical or mental health were to move to some type of senior residence or moving in with their adult children. The prospect of losing their independence this way can be daunting for many seniors.

There’s a new option now, one that help aging parents continue to enjoy their independence while assuring loved ones of their safety and comfort. Home care is not nearly as permanent or absolute as an assisted living facility or moving in with children, but still addresses needs and concerns that arise as seniors age.

There’s no reason for seniors to lose their quality of life when just a few hours a week of home care can make a huge difference. An in-home caregiver can help with daily tasks from personal hygiene to laundry, as well as provide valuable companionship for outings or meals. Experienced care providers can also provide medical support in case of emergency. Warman Home Care only hires Certified Nurse Assistants who have experience in a hospital or nursing home setting.

Learn more about Warman Home Care and our great caregivers.