Depression In Aging

A common problem in elderly people is depression, seniors carry many emotional situations going on in their life and studies have proven that 25% of seniors are suffering from depression. Just like the younger generation, both suffer with the feelings of change, it can be mental or physical changes they are not be used to such as physical health or change in their independence level. Depression is a disease and a chemical imbalance that occurs, as does any other disease that develops in our body such as people that are a diabetic, there are medications to help seniors cope when diagnosed with depression.

Often time’s even doctors of the elderly find it difficult to diagnosis depression because being withdrawn along with feelings of sadness and grief is common with seniors. Frustration is normal for any age but when it sets in with a senior it seems to more intense because seniors often find it hard to accept the aging process. It is also important not to confuse depression with someone who is in mourning or grief-stricken which are often able to play his or her course throughout, but can also lead to a terrible state of depression.

A seniors doctor can help make the diagnosis of depression especially if the senior opens up and talks about how he or she is feeling, perhaps they take notice to physical or mental inabilities that appear to be changing. There are medications and advice to help maintain depression in our seniors and lead them to regain complete happiness once again.