Depression is a disease not just a way of feeling. Everyone feels “blue” now and again, but those feelings of sadness go away. Depression is different.  It is an illness that comes from a chemical imbalance in the brain. People who are diagnosed with depression have an illness that affects their whole body, including their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, physical health, appearance and daily activities. 

The most important thing to remember about depression and the elderly is that being depressed is not a normal part of getting older. However, depression is a common illness in the older population. Doctors say that depression in the elderly increases the risk of heart disease and death from a heart attack. Depression also affects how the blood clots, so people with depression may develop dangerous blood clots after surgery.

Elderly people often have one or more chronic illnesses. Depression often occurs with illnesses such as Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

The risk factors that make an elderly person more likely to suffer from depression include:

• Being female
• Living alone
• Having few friends
• Being a widow
• Fear of death
• Having chronic illness or dementia
• Having a recent death in the family
• Having a family history of depression

There are a number of ways to treat depression. Some are treated with medications and some are treated with therapy or both. If you are caring for an elderly that has signs of depression or has been diagnosed with depression, be positive and be patient. Encourage your clients to participate in their care. Doing activities they enjoy (if they are able) can go a long way in relieving depression.