As Americans age, many spend greater amounts of time and money on their physical well-being – try-ing the latest anti-wrinkle cream, joining gyms to tone sagging muscles, and going on diets to reduce cholesterol.

They experience more physical pain, feelings of sadness about the loss of friends, and, of course, more anxiety and fatigue. While sometimes these symptoms are a natural part of aging, they often stem from actual depression, a serious medical condition that needs to be treated.

Unfortunately, few people routinely examine their mental health with the same scrutiny they devote to their body, even though depression is one of the most common medical illnesses in the United States – second only to heart disease as a cause of disability.

More than 10 percent of the 19 million Americans with depression are senior citizens – roughly two out of every 10 people over 65. Depression is not only a serious medical problem on its own, but it can complicate existing medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and cancer, and increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.

The good news is that depression is highly treatable, and often curable. In fact, 80 percent of those who seek medical care for their depression will see an improvement in their symptoms or feel completely recovered.

The bad news is that older adults don’t often seek treatment on their own, and when left untreated, their misery could become so severe, they may be at risk for suicide.

It is important to look for signs of depression in an elderly parent, spouse or relative, because usually they can’t recognize it themselves, or feel too ashamed to talk about it.

Family members need to step in and take an active role in helping an older adult get medical treatment. They need to call a physician, report the signs of depression they see, make an appointment, and then accompany the depressed family member to the doctor’s office.

Treatments consist of a variety of approaches, with the most common being talk therapy and medication – or a combination of the two.

What many people don’t know is that even recurring depression can be treated effectively if people are determined to try.

Recent research conducted by the National Institute for Health found that depressed patients over age 70 who continued use of prescribed medication were 60 percent more likely to prevent further episodes of depression than those who stopped treatment.

Failure to diagnose depression or seek treatment can be life-threatening when it pushes suicidal thoughts off the deep end and into potentially fatal actions. Americans over 65 have a higher suicide rate than any other age group, a risk that increases to five times the national average for white men older than 85.

Many of these suicides might have been prevented if people had been treated for depression. Recent studies show that up to 75 percent of older adults who committed suicide had seen their doctor in the month before their suicide. But, they usually did not discuss the fact that they were depressed, which is why it is so important for the family to step in.

Encouragingly, there are dozens of simple ways to help those suffering from depression, in addition to the obvious advice of having them seek help from knowledgeable medical professionals.

Other simple things like encouraging an older person to volunteer or establishing regular visits by caring friends can play a key role in alleviating the feeling of isolation that often contributes to depression.

The elderly in our country – those who survived the Depression, World War II and the Korean War – have been called the “Greatest Generation” because they overcame every trial and tribulation that came their way.

There is no reason for any of them to cede that accolade to depression, an insidious and sometimes lethal foe, when there is medical aid available. With a family’s help in getting older Americans diagnosed and treated, they can recover and live normal lives.

Julie Totten is the president and founder of Families for Depression Awareness (www.familyaware.org), a national nonprofit organization helping families recognize and cope with depressive disorders. Readers may write her at 395 Totten Pond Rd., Suite 404, Waltham, Mass. 02451.