Holiday Blues and the Elderly

Holiday blues and the elderly
With the holidays rapidly approaching, many people will travel to visit elderly relatives. Even if you see your older loved ones frequently or are limited to infrequent visits by distance or other factors, you may notice differences in your loved one during this time of year.Planning for Elder Care (www.longtermcarelink.net) has recently published an article regarding "holiday blues" and depression in the elderly.According to the National Institutes of Health, about two million of the 35 million Americans who are age 65 and older suffer from serious depression. Another five million suffer from less severe forms of the illness. This represents about 20 percent of the senior population, which is a significant percentage.Since depression in the elderly is difficult to diagnose, it is frequently untreated. The symptoms may be easily confused with medical illness, dementia or the aftereffects of poor nutrition. Caregivers and/or family members may be the catalyst for change, through observation of behavioral changes and assisting in seeking treatment for the elderly person.The actual holiday does not cause depression, but often the associated memories of a happier time. Depression can result from loss of a spouse or close friend, a move to another level of care, worries about money in this economy or even a change in the normal routine. Symptoms of depression can also signal an underlying medical problem, such as dementia, chronic pain, diet that is lacking in proper nutrition and vitamins or Vitamin B12 deficiency.Some symptoms to look for in the elderly include: depressed or irritable mood, feelings of worthlessness and sadness, expressions of helplessness, anxiety, loss of interest in daily activities or in decorating for the holidays, loss of appetite, weight loss, failure to consistently attend to personal care and hygiene, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irresponsible behavior, obsessive thoughts about death and talk about suicide. The older person often denies any difficulties, or may fear a diagnosis of mental illness, thus refusing to acknowledge the need for treatment.Another issue is that depression and dementia have similar symptoms. Depression generally has a rapid mental decline. Motor skills may be slowed but are generally normal. The person may have trouble concentrating, and may worry about impaired memory. However, memory for time and dates, as well as general awareness of the environment remains intact. On the other hand, persons with dementia experience a slow decline, with confusion and memory loss associated with familiar situations. Writing, speaking and other motor skills are impaired, and memory loss is usually not acknowledged by the person who is experiencing symptoms of dementia.A geriatric medical practitioner is recommended for the diagnosis and treatment of depression or dementia symptoms in older individuals. A treatment plan may include cognitive therapy, antidepressants or as simple as steps to relieve loneliness. Underlying medical problems can be assessed at the same time.The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation offers a "Depression Tool Kit" at www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/consumer/depression_toolkit.html.