Depression in seniors is common, but treatable

Down in the dumps, having the blues or being woebegone are terms seniors may use when describing feelings of sadness. But depression, by any other name, is still a serious illness.

“Depression doesn’t get enough attention,” said Pam Taylor, geriatric mental health specialist for the Elder Service Program at Community Health and Counseling Services. “Some people think, ‘Well, if you’re old and sick you should be depressed,’ but no one should be depressed. There are treatments available.”

Depression is not a natural consequence of aging, she added, but it can be mistaken for dementia. Similar symptoms, including confusion, slow movements, and losing interest in things once enjoyed, may lead to a misdiagnosis. An evaluation by a specially trained mental health professional can differentiate between the two diseases.

Other symptoms of depression include, but are not limited to:

. feelings of hopelessness about the future.

. difficulty making decisions.

. feelings of worthlessness and not being needed by anyone.

. unusual tiredness.

. difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much.

. eating much less or more than usual.

. often feeling fidgety or restless.

Depression has a variety of causes, some biological and others environmental, as well as different levels of severity, said Taylor.

“Some medications, cardiac conditions, strokes, Parkinson’s disease and cancer can have the side effect of depression,” she added. “A chemical imbalance in the brain and suppressed childhood trauma can result in depression later in life as can loss, such as when loved ones start to die.”

There is a 50-percent chance of recurrence if one has had an episode of depression in the past. The figure rises to 75 percent for two episodes, she said.

“The thing about [senior] depression is the incidence of elder suicide, which is three times the adolescent rate. And seniors who are suicidal don’t usually talk about it and are generally successful if an attempt is made,” said Taylor. “Even without suicide, depression can be lethal medically, due to not eating right, getting sick and dying sooner.” Maine’s rate for elder suicide is higher than that nationally, she added.

Two common treatments for depression are antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. Chemical imbalances usually can be treated with both methods, while environmental cases might require therapy alone.

“I had a client who had suffered terrible abuse as a child, but had never talked about it before,” said Taylor. “After we talked, she said how much better she felt.”

Treatments are “apt to be short-term, ranging from a few visits to a few months,” she added. “A lot of times it’s just having some attention paid to them. They have lost so many friends to death, their families are busy, and they just feel all alone, which can lead to depression.”

Getting some proud seniors to agree to receive help can be a challenge all its own. Often they don’t want to be a burden and a bother, Taylor said. She reminds them of all the people they helped when they were younger.

“When they remember how much they enjoyed helping family and friends, they are more apt to accept help themselves,” she said. And Taylor is confident about the resiliency of seniors.

“Most older people are survivors or they would not have gotten where they are,” she said. “If you can rev them up a little bit, they’ll be good to go for awhile.”

Fond of quoting a former co-worker, Taylor reminds clients that “there is no disease called ‘being old.’ If there is something wrong, fix it.”

Depression is not a fact of aging, she added. You do not have to live with it.

For information on senior depression, call the Elder Service Program at CHCS at 947-0366.

Carol Higgins is communications director at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA, call 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.