Depression in elderly signs

What are common symptoms of depression? What is the best antidepressant for an elderly person? Why is it important to treat depression in elderly people? Are these early signs of depression? WebMD explains the signs of depression in your aging loved one and different treatment options.

Geriatric depression is a mental and emotional disorder affecting older adults.

Feelings of sadness and occasional blue” moods are normal. However, lasting depression is not a typical part of. Read about common signs and symptoms of depression in Seniors: including relevant statistics, causes, side effects, and any co-occurring disorders seen with severe depression in Seniors. While most people experience periods of sadness at times, depression is a treatable medical condition. There are many reasons why depression in older people is often missed or untreated.

The signs are much more varied for seniors than younger individuals, making it tricky to recognize the condition and differentiate it from others. For some older adults with depression , sadness is not their main symptom. Depression in Seniors Is Often Overlooked.

They may have other, less obvious symptoms of depression , or they may not be willing to talk about their feelings.

Here are nine warning signs to look for if you think you might be depressed. Symptoms of depression can vary from sadness to fatigue. To help the elderly person with depression , you need to know the general signs of depression in elderly and understand the causes of depression in older adults. Seniors themselves may ignore the symptoms, believing their suffering is a result of growing older and therefore they are expected to slow down. Signs of depression in the elderly (geriatric depression ) Despite depression being more prevalent than dementia among the elderly , it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Some of the signs of depression in older people may be different to those considered typical, and they may be mistaken for indications of other conditions, like Alzheimer. You’d think it would be easy to detect depression in an older person — after all, many signs of sadness, including tears and lethargy, are visible. But depression , like many other ailments, often manifests differently in the elderly compared with younger people. However older adults are at an increased risk for experiencing depression.

If you are concerned about a loved one, offer to go with him or her to see a health care provider to be diagnosed and treated. The signs of depression in elderly women are largely derived from circumstances such as facing the demise of their lives, widowhoo financial hardship, physical illness and infirmity, and in some cases distance from family and friends. The fact that elderliness is accepted as a property of depressive symptoms both by the relatives of the patients and doctors is one of the factors which make it difficult.

The good news is, depression in the elderly is absolutely treatable with the right medications, lifestyle changes, or coping tools. It’s important to develop a comprehensive treatment program that addresses a person’s risk factors and causes of depression. Seniors often assume that feeling depressed is a natural part of the aging process, and while short periods of sadness are to be expecte major depression is not. If you have elderly family members or friends, know the risk factors for and the signs of depression in older adults. Chronic medical ailments can cause depression in older adults and the elderly.

The depressive feelings in older adults and seniors are often associated with physical illness, which increases the risk of depression. Know the signs and symptoms of depression in older adults and the elderly.