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Article Series: Depression
I'm Depressed. It Sucks. Help Me.
What
Can Cause Elderly Depression?
When illnesses or disabilities affect an older
person’s life, he or she may succumb to elderly depression.
These maladies might cause the person to have to slow down,
relocate away from family and friends or make other changes
in circumstances that could cause depression. Depression in
later life could possibly cause serious side effects such as
thoughts of suicide.
Depression can take a devastating toll on an older person
and could increase risk of death. Nursing homes have noted
that elderly patients with physical illnesses or disabilities
are much more likely to pass away earlier than those with a
healthy outlook on life. In fact, suicide among the elderly
account for almost 20% of all deaths by suicide.
Illnesses that are more likely to strike the elderly, such
as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer’s
Disease can also trigger clinical depression, a more severe
form of depression. Elderly depression can cause health care
costs to soar among the elderly. It’s estimated that depression
found in people of all ages costs billions of dollars each
year.
The elderly may also take certain medications that are known
to cause depression. Be sure to check with your health care
provider if you suspect this might be the cause of depression
feelings and thoughts. The doctor may be able to change the
medication and quickly correct the problem.
Disabilities might cause an elderly person to think less of
him or herself. Amputations caused by problems associated with
diabetes, cancer or a heart attack that may have changed the
person’s perception of himself and could contribute to feelings
of depression. Chronic pain might also cause depression. Antidepressants
can help ward off depression in these situations.
Some people simply are made up of factors that contribute
to depression, and that’s also true of the elderly. If their
psychological, environmental or genetic makeup is imbalanced,
their bodies may no longer be able to produce the brain chemicals
involved in fighting depressive thoughts. There may be no good
identifiable reason that an elderly person is depressed, but
if depression symptoms occur, a good physical and mental evaluation
is in order.
Elderly depression can be very complicated and become even
more so if other factors are involved such as chemical or alcohol
dependence. Biological occurrences such as hormonal changes
make an older woman more at risk for depression than men, and
women may also have the added burden of being the caregiver
for a spouse in later life.
It’s easy to miss symptoms of elderly depression because both
medical persons and family or friends might regard the disability
or illness as being the cause of withdrawal or sadness. Symptoms
of depression in the elderly can easily be treated with effective
treatments, if diagnosed, so if you suspect someone of having
elderly depression, suggest seeing a health care provider for
an evaluation. Click here to learn exactly how to eliminate your depression and experience relief and happiness. Stop struggling and put yourself on a better path in life today. It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation. Also, here is a complimentary guide to get you started (PDF format).
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2010
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