Depression is never an easy thing to deal with. No truer is this then when it comes to senior or elderly family members. As parents and others age – their mental capacities begin to naturally break down. In fact, the brain is not able to produce acceptable levels of serotonin and dopamine. These are vital neurotransmitters that help us feel good about ourselves, as well as life. When these levels begin to diminish due to old age, stress, anxiety and worries –depression tends to set in. The caregivers at Mom’s Home Care are emotionally strong and patient. Our caregivers have experience dealing with elderly depression and even dementia.

Ways to Cope with Elderly Depression

While there is no formal cure for senior depression and anxiety, there are ways to cope with the issue at hand. For one, do not try to assess or analyze what your elderly parent or relative is experiencing. Remember, depression tends to vary between individuals – and at time - sufferers can literally feel trapped in their minds and bodies. Doctors or mental health physicians may also prescribe anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds to patients as well.

However, these medicines only offer temporary relief by stimulating the flow of dopamine and serotonin to the brain. These medications can also have reverse or detrimental effects if used for extended periods of time.  In fact, drugs like lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), and citalopram are highly addictive and sedate patients for weeks or months at a time. This is something you do not want your loved one to go through. According to industry experts, the following tips and suggestions are essential and can truly make a difference in dealing with depression:

  • Our caregivers engage them in meaningful and trusting conversation – no matter how bizarre or strange their thoughts or actions may seem. Conversations help patients express their feelings, as well as their innermost thoughts, which help alleviate anxiety and depression one small step at a time.
  • Caregivers encourage the patient to be active – despite the depressive and saddening thoughts. By being active, your loved one can break the mental shackles he or she have created for themselves – or a result from life traumas and other disappointments.
  • Our caregivers spend time with your loved one to show them that they care. Try to spend much time as possible with your loved one. Just a small gesture like hugging your parent or family member can show them that they are still loved and mean something to you and your family members.
  • In the worse case scenarios – where depression has altered the mind and even shrunk the hippocampus – professional, psychological, and professional help will be needed. Simply consult with a psychiatrist or psychologist to see which avenues you can take to help elderly patients marred with depression.

Senior Depression – Knowing the Signs

In order to help your family member deal with depression, you must first learn to recognize the signs. Our caregivers are trained to recognize signs of depression. This includes mood swings, along with loss of interest in activities and life in general. Depressed older adults usually withdraw themselves from basic and essential activities as well, including grooming themselves and showering or shaving. They also tend to be quiet and do not want to engage in meaningful conversations. Most of all, they will lose their appetite and basically live in a shell that they create for themselves. By knowing the signs, the caregivers at Mom’s Home Care are able to find possible ways to helping them handle or overcome depression. This, however, is a lengthy process – and our caregivers are patient, caring, loving, and committed to helping patients in anything and everything they need.