Indicators That a Senior Loved One is Depressed

 A popular myth states that depression is a normal part of aging. While the changes that come with growing older, like retirement, illness, and the loss of friends and family, can cause depression, it is not normal for seniors to be depressed. A senior loved one experiencing melancholia need to be treated for the condition. Before treatment can begin, depression symptoms need to be recognized. Read some important indicators listed below by Amarillo Home Care;

Constant Sadness:

Prolonged despair is the symptom most commonly associated with depression. In seniors, melancholia can be mistaken for dementia. When a person is in mourning, they may appear to be depressed. Grief is not the same as depression. Only a medical professional can determine if your senior loved one needs treatment for depression.

Agitation:

Depression affects men and women differently. Unusual irritability is a melancholia symptom unique to males. When an older man is depressed, he may become reckless and display misplaced anger. There is also a possibility of drug and alcohol abuse.

Altered Sleep Patterns:

Insomnia can be both a symptom and cause of depression. Sleep deprivation during a depressive episode leads to potentially debilitating fatigue. Depression can also cause a senior to sleep too much.

Anxiousness:

If your senior loved one is depressed, they may not complain of feeling anxious. Your loved one might use the words nervous, restless, or tense. However it is described, anxiousness can lead to physical symptoms.

• Increased heart rate
• Faster breathing
• Profuse sweating
• Muscle spasms

A senior experiencing the above symptoms need medical attention to determine if the cause is physical or emotional.

Changes In Eating Habits:

Depression takes the appetite to extremes. A senior who is depressed might eat too much or too little. A prolonged change in appetite results in radical changes in weight. To rule out melancholia as the cause of weight gain or loss, determine if your senior loved one is making a conscious effort to change their weight.

Emotional Extremes:

Emotional outbursts, sudden mood changes, and uncontrollable weeping with no apparent cause are indicative of depression.

Hopelessness:

Despondency is a primary symptom of depression. Self-loathing, unwarranted feelings of guilt and feelings of worthlessness can accompany hopelessness. If a senior loved one questions the point of living or takes the blame for things they're not responsible for, consult their healthcare provider.

Lack Of Interest:

Depression robs a person of interest in things about which they were once passionate. A loss of interest can include cutting oneself off from family and friends and a loss of libido.

Suicidal Ideations:

People intending to end their life usually speak of committing suicide. If a senior loved one hint that they are thinking about killing themself, take them seriously. Call 911. Your loved one's doctor, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Stay with your loved one until help arrives.