WHAT TO DO WHEN GRANDMA GETS THE BLUES

Your 75-year-old mom, once so full of energy, is irritable and keeping to herself. Your octogenarian uncle, who used to crack jokes and love a good time, has lost his zest for life. You attribute their personality changes to aging and health issues. After all, getting depressed seems inevitable when knees ache, vision starts to go or blood pressure soars, right?

Despite what you hear, depression isn't a normal part of aging. In fact, older adults are less likely to have depressive disorders than are middle-aged adults. When older people do develop depression, it hits them especially hard. It tends to last longer and is more likely to lead to suicide, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.

The worse the depression, the more a person's quality of life and physical andmental functioning diminished. Wondering if an aging relative or friend may be depressed? Here are some warning signs and what to do about them.

Depression often goes unnoticed in the elderly. Rather than acting "sad," an older person may complain about aches, pain or other ailments. Older people tend to underreport depression symptoms and overreport physical ones. If an elderly person has any of the following conditions, it may coexist with - or even mask - a case of depression.

ILLNESS: Health problems often accompany depression, and boost risk for the disorder.

INSOMNIA: Sleep problems, which are common in the elderly, can also increase the risk of depression.

FORGETFULNESS: A hallmark of depression, this may be incorrectly attributed to mild cognitive impairment or even Alzheimer's disease. Unlike people who truly suffer from some form of dementia, a depressed person is more likely to complain and be upset about their forgetfulness.

LIFE STRESSORS: Common situations faced by older people - losing a loved one, caring for a sick relative, financial setbacks, trouble with family members, too little support from others, loneliness, a change in living situation, or getting ill - all increase the likelihood of depression.

PREVIOUS DEPRESSION: Even if someone was treated and recovered from an earlier depressed period, there's a chance the condition will return.

If you suspect your elderly relative is depressed, take him or her to a primary-care doctor or geriatric psychiatrist. Once you do, you're 80% of the way toward diagnosing or ruling out depression. Once diagnosed, depression is treatable - no matter the age. The doctor may prescribe antidepressants. Psychotherapy may also be recommended. If insomnia is at the root of your loved one's depression, a combination of sleep medication and cognitive behavioral therapy may be prescribed. If your relative has lost a spouse and is still mourning months later, bereavement therapy can help with the healing process.

Depression affects 20 million people in any given year and is a serious enough disorder to compromise one's ability to function normally day to day. Find out if your loved one is just blue or if they might be clinically depressed.

source: http://www.lifescript.com/