Depression is a severe issue at any age, and in recent years, more light is shining on this mental issue. Individuals often feel cornered by their emotions, and their family and friends are confused about how to aid in moving their loved one out of their depression. For those with older loved ones, elderly depression is a problem caregivers feel helpless to conquer the emotions.
Geriatric depression affects more individuals than you think and it is essential to find ways to help them with emotional care.
What is Elderly Depression?
Seniors shouldn’t punish themselves for feeling sadness, as it is normal for everyone to feel depressed. Elderly depression is often due to feeling helpless for their age and feeling like a burden to their family.
Signs of elderly depression
Common misconceptions about depression can keep those suffering from the disease from seeking help. People think depression always causes feelings of sadness. While this might be true for some, this severe mental health disorder manifests itself in other ways. If you noticed any troubling symptoms in your disabled senior family member, seek professional help for seniors with disabilities or the assistance of elderly day care. Both professional services can help combat symptoms of depression through socialization and therapeutic techniques.
Watch out for these symptoms of depression:
- Sudden intense aches and pains
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Disappearing motivation and energy
- Self-loathing or feeling worthless
- Suicidal thoughts
- Ignoring personal care needs like eating, medication, or hygiene
Medications can cause depression to your disabled senior loved, or it could be the beginning of a serious disease. If symptoms of depression start to get worse after seeking help, take your loved one to a doctor to rule out any more severe conditions.
Illness versus elderly depression
It’s important for caregivers to help senior citizens by acting as an advocate for their health. Sometimes doctors are quick to write off symptoms as depression. Your loved one could be experiencing the beginning of Alzheimer’s, dementia, ulcers, heart disease, or other serious health concerns.
Senior day care center staff includes devoted professionals who care for your loved one like their own family. It’s a good idea for disabled senior family members to be part of these kinds of facilities to have another set of eyes, ears, and concern looking out for them.
Watch out for the following symptoms of serious illness in disabled senior family members:
- Confusion
- Trouble seeing
- Rosacea, shingles, dry skin, easy bruising
- Fatigue and loss of appetite
- Urinary complications
- Pneumonia
- Ulcers, constipation, hemorrhoids
Any of the above conditions should be looked into immediately. If your family member attends a daycare for the elderly, ask the staff to keep an eye on their symptoms.
Treating Depression in Older Adults
When many people think of depression, they think of sadness. While some may experience feelings of despair with depression, there are other vital symptoms to observe. According to studies, about 25 percent of seniors suffer from depression.
Help with treatment
It’s hard to see a family member in physical or mental pain. The good news is there are quite a few options on how to help an older adult with depression. Depending on where a depressed senior loved one is living, treatment options could be as easy as changing their daily routine or as complicated as finding an alternative care option.
Depression in the elderly in nursing homes is not uncommon. Many of the seniors living in these communities are left to fend for themselves when it comes to activities and socializing. To protect your loved one from further depression, it may be worth considering moving them back home and seeking out elderly day care. This way, they are taken care of during the day when a caregiver is away, but the loving family still surrounds them in a more comfortable setting.
Other treatment options include:
- Encouraging new friendships
- Incorporating daily physical activities
- Spending one-on-one time playing games and talking
- Seeking out medical advice, which could include medication
Benefits of Adult Day Care for Elderly Depression
Do you know how an adult day care for seniors can help you and your loved ones? Caring for a disabled family member is a daily reality many people live. Adult day care facilities offer activities with music, dancing, games and more to break away from the routine. An adult day care center is not only an opportunity for the caregiver to take a break but also an opportunity for your loved one to establish structured independence outside of the home.
Don’t feel guilty enrolling your disabled senior family member in an adult day care, but learn how adult daycares have been named the best-kept secret in eldercare.
Improved health
Several adult day care services help improve the health of senior clients. When utilizing an adult day care center for seniors, you’ll have peace of mind while at you’re at work, running errands or taking some personal time. Your loved one is safe and well taken care of with senior care. It will help improve health through:
- Physical Therapy: One of the most critical activities helping seniors maintain independence is improving their balance, strength, and mobility.
- Nursing Services: Part of providing you with a peace of mind is the knowledge that our nursing staff is appropriately administering medications, monitoring vitals and managing all the medical needs of your loved one.
- Mobile Dentistry: Our partners provide our senior clients with exams, cleaning, fillings and several other vital procedures for oral health.
Social day care for the elderly
Creating meaningful friendships between our clients and staff members is key to improving our senior clients’ overall outlook on life. Studies show conversation is a way to strengthen a disabled seniors cognitive health. At an adult day care for seniors, music and games are fun, entertaining ways for clients to create friendships in a monitored environment. Social activities have pulled them out of depression and allowed them to be themselves.
Safe and Structured Independence
Illness and disabilities can leave seniors feeling lost and isolated. Providing them with an adult day care center for seniors can encourage a feeling of independence and purpose. When our seniors can get out of the house, they can make decisions about who they want to socialize with and what activities they’d like to participate in each day. Feeling independent may give some seniors the confidence they need at home to start taking an active role in managing their health.
Fun senior day care activities
Senior care centers provide several events to celebrate holidays, birthdays and other special occasions with our seniors. These activities keep clients happy and excited to come back every day. Assuring senior clients enjoy their time here also helps their caregivers know they made the right decision by bringing them to us.
Improved Family Relationships
We know the stress of being a caregiver can put on you. An adult day care for seniors allows you to take some time to yourself or focus on work or other aspects of your life. It also gives your senior family member some time away from you and their familiar surroundings. Time apart helps both of you improve your relationship with one another.
Take the First Step Towards Conquering Elderly Depression
Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Center has a focus on providing a fun and active environment for all our elderly and disabled adults. Our expressions program helps with emotional development and innovative therapies. Visit us at one of our locations today!
