Jack, Nancy’s father, had come a long way in the last few months in his journey of struggling with depression. From lethargy and loss of interest in life, he had made several changes in his routine.
Although he didn’t like to admit it, he knew Nancy’s efforts had given him the push to crawl out of the hole into which he’d sunk. He wouldn’t have gone to the doctor without her encouragement, and the antidepressants had been the first step in feeling better. The counsellor had helped as well. He was a decent sort, and it felt good to tell someone his feelings on his bad days.
But the day Nancy had brought Lady, that wiggling bundle of love had won his heart and forced him to exercise every day. He and his little spaniel explored the neighbourhood and he’d even lost some weight. His cardiologist would be pleased.
Nancy had gone through his fridge and cupboards one day and hadn’t been impressed. “Dad, almost everything in here is pre-packaged and high salt!”
He’d looked sheepish and replied, “I’m not much of a cook. Your mother used to do all the cooking, and since she died, I just pick up things that are easy.”
Nutrition and hydration
Nancy tried putting meals in her dad’s freezer, and that worked well, except he still didn’t get enough fruits and vegetables. With her own family to feed and a full time job, she wore herself out with the demand. Then she found a service which provided fresh meals that included all the food groups. Delighted, she signed her father up.
Dehydration is an ongoing problem in the elderly. Sometimes it’s a case of forgetting to drink, or 
mistaking thirst signals for hunger. Over the course of a day, an average adult female should drink 2.3 litres or 75 ounces and a male about 3 litres or 100 ounces of fluid. Although that sounds like an overwhelming amount, small changes can help. Keeping a water bottle close and eating water-dense food like watermelon or cucumber can help A few days of keeping track of your fluid consumption can help you understand how much you are drinking and strategize ways to improve.
The power of community and purpose
Jack returned to his art classes, something he had enjoyed, but dropped when his depression hit. Not only did he like learning a new skill, but the small group of people became friends, and often went out for coffee after class.
Jack wondered about something else. Much of his life was about receiving, and he began to wonder if there were ways in which he could still give. Because it was something he cared about, he talked to the people at his local food bank. He couldn’t lift heavy boxes, but were there other ways in which he could help? They told him they needed people to sort products and check expiration dates. Jack discovered another community, and weekly he spent a few hours helping others.
The medication helped Jack deal with the chemical imbalance in his brain causing his depression. He still takes it, and is closely monitored by his doctor. But exercise, cognitive therapy, nutrition, hydration, community, and a little dog named Lady all worked together to bring Jack back to a fulfilled life of purpose.