Depression in Seniors during the Holidays

Depression occurs in seniors- Especially during the holidays

For many Americans the holiday season begins at Thanksgiving.
“The holidays” bring a variety of emotions with it.
We feel joy, gratitude, excitement and love.
Generally, our gatherings are filled with happy times
and can be a wonderful reminder of days gone by.
For some, however, these reminders can bring a sense
of sadness or grief. This time of year may also bring
feelings of stress, fear, anxiety, loneliness, and depression.

“The blues” can be quite common during this time of year.
Seniors, especially can be affected. Most seniors have
suffered many losses in their time. These losses can include
loss of independence, personal health, friends, hobbies, loved ones,
etc. In some cases, they may be suffering with full-blown depression.
Some seniors may try to hide the fact that they are feeling down and/
or depressed. For many there was a stigma attached to depression along
with other mental illness. In their day, there was a great deal of
misunderstanding about those diagnoses. Those afflicted where often
ashamed of the illness and it was rarely discussed openly.
This is still true for many seniors today.

If the blues are caused by a death, the person may still be in mourning.
Discussing the loss and reminiscing about the person may be helpful in
resolving that grief. The person may be mourning the loss of an item or
activity such as a home or change in physical condition. In these cases,
sometimes offering an activity may be helpful. For instance, if one used
to knit and can no longer make those lovely sweaters for gifts, teaching
someone else how to create such items may relieve that sense of loss.
If the loss is over a home or apartment, you might try to find out exactly
what it is that the person is missing. A garden can be replaced with a
window version or an herb garden. A workroom could perhaps be replaced
with the activity of helping another with small chores or minor repairs.

There may be other reasons for your senior’s depressed mood. Medications
can often cause feelings of depression. (e.g. medications for arthritis,
heart disease, hormone imbalances, thyroid conditions, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s) A change
in the dose or a choice of other medication may be the answer. Pain,
electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, steroids, and B-12 deficiency can
also be a culprit. Some cases of depression may be helped with psychotherapy.
Still others may require new medication and/or additional treatments.
Anyone experiencing the symptoms of full-blown depression should seek the
help of their primary care physician. Depression is a serious illness.
It can and should be treated. Watch for signs of suicidal thoughts or
comments about death and/or suicide. These should never be ignored.

Things that you can do to help someone who is mildly depressed or
experiencing the “blues”:

Encourage regular exercise
Encourage regular social activity
Music and laughter will often lift a mood
Insure healthy meals and proper nutrition
Medications should be taken as prescribed
Be sure that treatments are followed and are followed-up on
Have them volunteer with an organization they may connect with
Invite the person for outings allowing them to make connections with others
Be sure to tell the person how important they are to you. Sometimes your smile, hug and/or concern
can be all the difference.

Self Test for Depression

Loss of appetite
Lost sense of purpose
Changes in sleep patterns
Unexplained aches and pains
Increase in anxiety or worry
Changes in weight (up or down)
More nervous or agitated than usual
Loss of interest in personal care or hobbies
Slower response to questions or other stimuli
Difficulty thinking, concentrating or remembering
Complaints of fatigue, sadness or a sense of worthlessness


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Wishing you all a happy healthy holiday season
Live; Laugh; Love
Nancy Coulter Beland
Owner, Starfish Resources
www.starfishresources.net