Elder Care in Wake County NC

Depression can develop at any age, but is especially found in older adults. The symptoms of depression can often resemble those from other illnesses or diseases, making this an often overlooked condition. However, it is a condition that affects approximately 6.5 million adults over the age of 65 in the United States.

Since depression is often confused with other illnesses, most seniors do not get the help they need. This is especially true for seniors who live alone. Talk to your loved one about the possibility of hiring an elderly care provider. This professional caregiver will be able to offer your loved one the help they need, as well as watching for any signs of depression. If you or their caregivers do notice any symptoms of this disease, there are several ways you can help. Below are just a few of those ways.

Remain calm. Even though you realize that the elder should see a doctor, they may be resistant to talking to their physician about their depression. This may cause you to feel angry, frustrated, or agitated over the fact that they will not get the help they need. Try to remain calm when talking to them. Try to do a little investigative work to determine if there have been any changes in their life that could have caused them to develop depression. If the elder is unwilling to see a doctor, take a break and talk to them in a calm manner when the time is right.
Encourage them to share their feelings. Attempt to talk to your loved one about how they are feeling. Yet, try to refrain from using words like “depressed” or “struggling.” These words can be frightening for the elder to talk about, causing them to refuse to open up about how they are feeling. Instead, use words like “sad,” “blue,” and “rough time.”
Help only when necessary. Depression can be a debilitating condition that makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, let alone do their everyday tasks. It is ok that you help with some of these tasks, but do not do too much for your loved one. It will only enhance their feelings of uselessness and worthlessness. Have your loved one do as much as they can on their own before stepping in.

Depression is a difficult condition to watch an elderly parent to go through. You can talk to them about getting help, but this does have to be something they want to do. If they do have depression, the sooner they get treated, the lesser they will have to combat its symptoms.