Elderly suicides are on the rise, and some deaths are the direct result of depression. Many elders are fearful of admitting to mental lapses, confusion, or other signs of mental deterioration.
Understandably, many elders are fearful they may lose their independence. Whether you are concerned about existing depression, or the onset of depression, there are a number of steps than can help:
Increased exercise
Exercise is good for the body and good for the soul. Some elders may prefer to head to the local mall to get in a walk. Others may prefer the neighborhood, which can be treacherous during the winter.
One solution is to buy them a treadmill, or exercise bike. I have seen more then one of my grandparents suddenly enjoy exercising in their own home after turning 80.
Social interaction
Ideally, your elder parent lives somewhere that makes socializing easy. Many assisted living homes and nursing homes have a variety of social activities. There are usually enough activities that maybe one or two is appealing.
Elders who live at home still have plenty of options. Make it a point to call once a week at a certain time when you know they will answer (grandkids are good at that). Many county social services provide care workers and social workers who will stop by on a weekly basis. There is also the more expensive route of hiring someone to stop by a few times a week to just say hi. Depending on how close you live to your elder parent, some options are better then others.
Medication
Many elderly individuals are very resistant to taking medications to alleviate any some of mental illness, or mental distress. Medication will not cure the issue on its own, but it can certainly make an impact. In many cases, the relationship with their doctor is crucial and can be the deciding factor in whether medication is even an option. In addition, there are many resources available for elder pharmaceuticals.
(photo: kwerfeldein)
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Randall Ryder is consumer rights attorney in Minnesota, where he suesabusive debt collectors and is a publisher of Elder Parent Help.
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