Mental illness like depression is very common in older people. However, they are frequently overlooked, misdiagnosed, and neglected. Early detection and treatment can help an older person prevent long-term mental health concerns. As you get older, having good mental health might help you live a more meaningful and fulfilled life. Here’s how to recognise the indications of depression in an elderly relative.
- Death of a loved one
- retirement, or a sense of hopelessness
- Health problems with age
- Limited mobility
- Less social interaction
Recognising depression symptoms in the elderly
Depression symptoms are quite common across the adult lifespan and are a natural part of ageing. However, it’s critical to easily recognise the indications in elderly people, especially if it’s a family member you don’t often see. There are plenty of other factors that might lead to distress.
Tiredness and a lack of motivation
Depression in older adults causes you to lose interest in your regular hobbies and feel exhausted. If your loved one has quit participating in any of their activities, hobbies, or other interests. It is a significant indication that something is happening. Even if there is a reasonable cause, such as illness, it must be considered alongside other symptoms of depression.
If you live far away from your ageing parents or loved ones, you can ask necessary questions. You may ask about their regular activities, routine, and personal hobbies. You can also inquire about their health and well-being by visiting them whenever possible. It will help you broaden your understanding of their lives and enable you to make changes.
Changes in sleeping habits
Various types of depression could have an impact on sleep patterns. Many adults have a bedtime and a morning routine. If you are depressed, you may feel like you want to sleep all day or you may have difficulty sleeping at night. If you are constantly thinking about things, you can’t get enough sleep and are not able to sleep at night most of the time.
Some good advice is to try to practise meditation techniques like deep breathing and be calm. It will help you not to overthink, worry about things, or feel lonely or anxious. So, you are able to get better sleep at night. It’s also a great idea to keep an eye on what you eat before bed time to make sure not to eat something too high in energy.
Limited social interaction
Less social interaction and activities are common when depression makes you feel unable to socialise. Regardless of the fact, socialising can serve as a diversion or even make you feel less alone when you discuss things that others can correspond to.
If your loved one has completely stopped socialising, they will need to reintroduce themselves gradually. Also, friends or relatives can help older people to feel less lonely while visiting them often. You can also take them with you for short trips or picnics, so they are able to feel less emotional about any mishap or loss.
Losing weight and lack of appetite
In the elderly, weight loss and lack of appetite are common symptoms of depression. Although there may be other reasons, for example they may not feel like going out to buy food, during the winter as it can be more dangerous due to the icy surface. It’s possible that your loved one is less mobile and fearful of falling. That’s why it’s necessary to figure out if they have enough food supply in the house and if that could be a reason for not eating enough.
If you are around to observe an empty fridge or cabinet, or that your loved one is losing weight, then you should start discussing this with your parents or loved ones and encourage them to eat. Ask them what they have eaten all day and prepare their favourite meal for them if possible.
Worrying and being anxious
Your elderly loved one may be depressed due to anxiety and worries. Or depression might just have forced them to focus more on their problems and worries. If you observe that your loved one is more anxious or concerned than normal, this could be a sign of depression.
When they are facing depression and anxiety, they may be unable to speak to anyone. Furthermore, physical illness symptoms may get worse over time, if they don’t stop themselves from being worried every time.
How can aged people avoid depression?
The majority of aged people suffer from depression, and it might go unnoticed for a long time. As a result, you may notice:
- problems with communicating
- Isolation
- Lack of self-assurance
- Negative impact on mental health
Care homes can assist you in ensuring that seniors suffering from depression are well cared for. These homes train their staff members that they must be aware of the needs of people and communicate effectively with them.
Moreover, medication, round-the-clock care, and family participation may all be beneficial to the residents’ health. Staff should seek help from a doctor or nurse when needed, and their medicines should be checked on a daily basis.
When dealing with daily paperwork, both employees and management demand a high level of concentration. The most effective strategy, in our opinion, is to have the required tools, data, and communication.
If care home workers spend less time on paperwork and more time on their residents, it would be more beneficial. They’ll be more involved with the residents and invest more time in them. However, by effectively managing your service and staff, digital care management software plays a great role to streamline your tasks and activities. In this way, care homes give quality care to your loved ones by simplifying and centralising care management.
Final Thoughts
Things can change quickly for elderly people, and if you keep in touch on a regular basis, you’ll be able to recognize the indications. Any changes in behaviour will be noticeable, especially if all of these issues are brought up in your interactions. When you are too busy to care for your loved ones, you may benefit from additional help like care homes. Start looking into care homes to discover where you and your loved ones feel most at ease.