With so many other concerns to worry about,
sometimes we miss what's right in our face.
We may brush it off. Thinking it's natural for
the elderly to be depressed. Wrong. They need
to see their doctor and discuss their depression
so they can get help.
Who needs to cope with depression, especially
if there are other medical problems?
Symptoms of Depression
(from the US Department of Health and Human Services)
1. Persistent sadness, anxiety or empty mood
2. Loss of interest in ordinary activities, family/friends
3. Decreased energy, fatigue, "slowed down"
4. Sleep problems
5. Eating problems
6. Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
7. Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
8. Thoughts of suicide or death
9. Irritability
10. Excessive crying, sometimes without reason
If you notice some or all of these symptoms in your aging
parent, please get them to their doctor to talk about it.
It didn't dawn on me with my own mother that she was
suffering depression. I was concentrating on her other
health problems. Once she was subscribed anti-depressants,
she began to feel so much better. Yay!
To get information from 12 of the top eldercare
experts...Click Here!
~Karen
