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Depression - senior citizens

By Anthony Ashard

Frequently overlooked, and in many cases not even diagnosed in the elderly is depression, an illness that severely affects many older people. It's not considered as “one of those things”. It is not “what you might expect at that age”. It is also not an inevitable part of the ageing process.

Depression is the most common mental health problem in later life.

Of the third of older people with depression who discuss it with their GP‚ only half are diagnosed and receive treatment.

Quote: "This means that only about 15 per cent of all older people with clinical depression receive treatment.

850‚000 out of 1 million people don’t
Source

I always wondered why so many pensioners seem to be miserable, it's not without surprise that many elderly have allot to complain about. Many things have changed around them, not forgetting just the speed of everything now, is hard to get your head around.

Fast this, fast that, automated this and that, everything is just so fast paced these days, even the young have trouble keeping up with modern life. How could we ever expect the elderly to understand let alone embrace and keep up with such a fast paced society.

For example and I think a good one. You're driving along a road and you come up behind an elderly driver, only to get quickly annoyed by the fact they are driving so slowly, and you can't get to where you want at your chosen pace.

I'm beginning to understand how my auntie felt the older she got. I'm 46 years old now, and starting to become aware of the potential problems that lay ahead for me, something all of us over-look perhaps many until it's too late. After all who wants to think about what it's going to be like when we're young?

Contributor's Note

Perhaps we all should give more consideration for the elderly and respect the fact that they are not able to move at our pace in modern society.

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Thank you Anthony for sharing this troubling intel with us.
This is well researched and written.
My compliments for a great job.
Keep up the fine work.
Frederick

frederick Jan 7, 2010 19:17

The seniors on Qondio seem to be doing fine. I think it's just a matter of outlook, if you're a positive person to begin with, you're more likely to be a sunny senior than a crabby codger.

By referring to just the senior citizens listed at Qondio, is a very small 'blinkered' percentage of the total elderly population to which my intel refers to. Consider the big picture if you will.

My father is one of the above statistics who is in a state of chronic long-term depression. Brought about by being made redundant, a bad divorce and years of chronic illness and to top things off for him completely losing all use of his hands through crippling arthritis.

He has NEVER touched a computer let alone required a reason to join any site like Qondio.

Chronic pain causes depression. My chronic pain was diagnosed as depression until I was 45. Symptoms are similar and no one ever asked if my pain was physical. If an aspirin or acetaminophen does more to elevate mood than antidepressants, you're probably dealing with physical chronic pain!

People are socially identified by what they do for a living. Banker, driver, soldier, food service -- work creates social identity and is most people's main source of social contact. When it all becomes "I used to be..." there's no future.

Then add new poverty when a pension's a fraction of previous income with no hope of more, ever.

Artists, writers, scientists, many professions don't have an age bar. People may slow down but are respected and productive till death.

Elderly who return to old dreams at retirement have goals. "Used to be a construction worker, now I'm an artist" is a respected self definition. Adjusting the budget downward is "Hey, I'm just starting out, I'll get better at this."

Nursing homes are the worst. Families treat visits as an obligation because the situation is so grim. Conditions in those facilities are prisonlike.

I used to work in one and I know how much humiliation the residents endured every day. There's no control of what or when to eat, do, or enjoy. Any control of your time or life choices is gone.

People who used to have pets can't keep them, that's an emotional loss too. Everything becomes impersonal. Even a good facility is regimented for the workers' convenience rather than residents' happiness.

Situational depression is solved by changing the situation. Try not to become dependent. Stay in the real world instead of the medical-institutional world. Revive a lost dream and launch of a second career.

They'd have to put a gun to my head to get me to check in at one of those places.

robertsloan2 Jan 22, 2010 08:40

Depression is very common in the elderly. The number of elderly that live alone and in isolation is huge which is another factor. I care for my 83 year old mother although she lives in her own home an hour away. Her depression is what I worry about most, despite the fact she has numerous physical ailments. I just want her to be happy. Medicating the elderly is tricky, and when they live alone it's downright dangerous.

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