Depression in older adults
Do anyone's parents have symptoms like this?
– Emotional changes: mood swings, irritability, easily angered, complaining a lot, restlessness
– Changes in appetite: may lose appetite or eat without feeling full
– Hopelessness, discouragement, no happiness
– Insomnia, waking up in the middle of the night, or restless/light sleep
– Feeling worthless, withdrawing from society
– Neglecting hygiene, not taking care of oneself
– Slow thinking, slow speech, slow decision-making, poor concentration
– Physical illness with no identifiable cause
– Fatigue without an apparent cause
– Thoughts of wanting to die or frequent thoughts about death
Most older adults tend to mention or complain about physical symptoms rather than talk about emotions and feelings, causing these important issues to be overlooked or left undiagnosed.
Depression may be an early symptom of, or occur together with, dementia. Statistics show that older adults are at risk of suicide and have a higher rate of completed suicide than other age groups due to feelings of loneliness, feeling like a burden, and not fearing death. The main triggers of depression include illness from chronic diseases, brain disorders, and the loss of a loved one.
How to care for older adults
– Older adults with depression should receive attentive care through talking and listening to better understand each other.
– They should be given opportunities to vent their distress and talk about the problems they have.
– Find activities for them to do to build self-esteem, or set small daily goals together so they feel they still have value and hope.
– Invite them to exercise or to do activities they enjoy.
– They should not nap for too long during the day because it may cause sleep problems at night.
– Most importantly, communicate with love by choosing a gentle tone of voice—hold hands or give a light massage, walk hand in hand; hugging or saying “I love you” can fill the emotional gap.
Even we ourselves feel good when someone tells us they love us often. Our parents feel no different—they also want to hear their children say “I love you.” This is emotionally far more valuable than an expensive gift.
Article by
Pharmacist Rungmit Choonhengphan (female)
Co-founder of Piti
Product for dry, itchy skin
