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Grandma usually was the organizer of family celebrations for
birthday, holidays and reunions. After grandpa died, she lost
interest in planning gatherings. Relatives would find her still
in her robe and slippers at noon. Voracious weeds were winning
the battle in the rose Garden that had been her pride and joy.
Mr. Jones' family is concerned about him since his
retirement last year. He has lost interest in life and has
trouble finding things to occupy his time, even though he used to
love fly fishing and woodworking--hobbies from his days as a 4-H
member.
Although there could be several reasons for Grandma and Mr.
Jones' behavior, it's possible they are experiencing depression.
Depression in older people can be confused with other normal age
related changes, such as appetite loss, reduced physical
activity, stooped posture and disrupted sleep patterns. Either
they don't recognize it or they refrain from sharing feelings
with others.
Sometimes, sadness, irritability, anger, paranoia or
hostility may dominate the behavior of a depressed person. It is
not uncommon for depression to be confused with dementia or
mental dysfunction and memory loss.
Underlying symptoms of depression often are signalled by
health complaints for which there is no medical basis. Many
times, older people express emotional distress in terms of bodily
symptoms. For example, they may say "My body feels so heavy."
Physical illness and depression can occur at the same time
in an individual, further complicating an accurate diagnosis.
Untreated depression can worsen or complicate a coexisting
medical problem.
Family members and friends need to recognize the common
signs of depression so professional help, if needed, can be
sought. Remember, there is no single sign of depression. An
assessment of depression is often dependent on observing a
cluster of symptoms.
Depression's main features are persistent sadness that may
last for two weeks or more, accompanied by changes in the
person's usual patterns, behavior or moods. One or more symptoms
from the following list often will be observed with sadness, mood
or behavioral changes.
Physical: Aches and pains, complaints, weight changes,
appetite changes, fatigue, lack of energy, change in sleeping
patterns.
Emotional: Anxiety, overall "empty" mood, apathy, crying
without reason, indifference.
Thought: Hopelessness, pessimism, feeling of helplessness,
self-reproach, excessive guilt, slow or disorganized thinking,
concentration or memory problems, indecisiveness, thoughts of
death or suicide.
Behavioral: A loss of interest in previously enjoyed
activities, sexual disinterest, neglect of appearance or hygiene,
difficulty with ordinary daily tasks, withdrawal from people,
increased alcohol or drug use, irritability, hostility,
agitation, pacing, restlessness, suicide discussion and/or
attempts.
Think about the Grandma or Mr. Jones in your family. Be
objective, hard as it may be, about the changes in their
behavior. Consider any recent stressful events that may have
occurred in the life of the older person.
The more you can observe and be aware of the signs of
depression in older persons, the more likely you can help them
and/or their families seek professional attention.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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