Depression in the Elderly: A Common Condition That's Often Overlooked

When Suzette Santos, RN, a behavioral health nurse with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), was assigned to the case of Grace*, an 89-year-old resident of Nassau County on Long Island, she had some idea what to expect. Suzette had cared for Grace a year earlier, as the elderly woman struggled to cope with depression brought on by the recent loss of her husband and lifelong partner. When Suzette reconnected with her patient this time, she could immediately see that Grace's depression had gotten worse. "She had lost a lot of weight -- about 20 pounds," Suzette recalls. "She had no interest in cooking or eating, and wasn't sleeping well. I was concerned that she might need to be hospitalized." With the holidays upon us, most of us will be spending more time with family, including older relatives like Grace. When you're with them, take some time to inquire about their health -- not just their physical condition, but their emotional state, especially if they've undergone a recent loss of a loved one or are coping with an illness. Major depression affects up to 5 percent of older Americans, while up to 16 percent of elderly individuals have significant depressive symptoms. Losing a spouse is a major risk factor for depression in this age group, as are chronic illnesses, including stroke, coronary heart disease, cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and dementia. One difference in Grace's case was that her condition was diagnosed. Depression is frequently overlooked in o...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news