Grey clouds hovered over the November sky all day, and at 4:00, dusk began to gather. Roger turned away from the window in disgust. He hated this time of year. Bare trees, colder temperatures and never enough light.
He eased himself into his recliner. Who was he kidding? He did hate November, but this seemed bigger. He’s been battling the blues for weeks. Grumpy and unmotivated, he’d even skipped his weekly card game with his buddies. He didn’t have the energy. He found himself worrying about all kinds of things, then worrying about worrying. Trying to break the cycle, he’d arranged a coffee date, but his friend had phoned to say he was sick and couldn’t come.
Roger stared at the darkening sky. What was the use?
One in six older adults report experiencing some form of depression or anxiety. This isn’t a passing blue day or normal grieving after a loss. This is when mood affects their ability to function. Those statistics are both high and frightening. 1.
Last month, we explored loneliness and social isolation, a leading cause of depression. This month we are going to look deeper into other causes of depression and how care partners can assist elders who struggle with this.
Depression can stem from many sources, with several contributing factors. Medical staff need to look in several directions to find solutions. Here are a few of the possible contributing factors:
Life Events
A part of aging is losing partners, relatives and close friends to death. Grieving doesn’t necessarily lead to depression, but it can be a factor. Other issues which lead to feelings of helplessness and loss of control are elder abuse and financial issues. Any time someone concluded that there are no answers and life is spiralling out of control, depression can be the result.
History
A life-long history of mental health will probably continue into elderhood. Also, if a close relative (such as a parent) suffered, it’s more likely to show up in other family members.
Life Changes
Retirement, moving, downsizing–every elder will experience them at some point. Even when carefully planned for, the emotional toll can be devastating.
Medications
“Nearly 7 in 10 adults aged 40–79 used at least 1 prescription drug in the past 30 days in the United States (69.0%) and Canada (65.5%), and around 1 in 5 used at least 5 prescription drugs (22.4% in the United States and 18.8% in Canada).” 2.
Alarming statistics. The numbers get much higher as elders over 75 deal with illness. Pharmacies alert doctors of drug interaction, and medications come with a list of side effects, but they are long and daunting, and many people don’t read them. Many drugs which are commonly used can cause depression.
Medical Conditions
As people age, their bodies wear out, and multiple medical conditions are common. Diseases of the heart and kidneys, diabetes and many other severe illnesses change life for elders. They can’t do the things they used to enjoy, they become more isolated, they feel unwell. It’s frightening and can lead to depression.
Alcohol Use
Alcohol is a catch-22, in that people often use it to dull the pain of issues like life changes or illness, and while it may help for a short time, it leads to many other problems, not the least of which is depression.
Depression, especially when combined with isolation, is a complex issue and downright scary. What can be done?
This month, we’ll look at some interventions, both medical and emotional, which can help. Of course, nothing should be attempted without medical counsel. But sometimes, with mild depression, a small change can make the clouds part and life seem worth living.
- https://www.cihi.ca/en/canadian-seniors-and-mental-health
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db347.htm